8/9 Season Two, Episode 1: To Catch a Mongoose-Scarecrow and Mrs King

Next thing we see is Amanda and Lee crossing the road to wait for Amanda’s bus – Lee says they will send on her bags when they are found ( what about the stuff she has bought and worn in the meantime?!) Lee offers to drive Amanda to the airport, but Amanda says she wants to ride a double decker bus (seeming to forget the episode opened with her riding on one -jetlag! ) It seems Lee took Amanda straight to the bus after the interrogation..
Here Lee seems to be in a much better mood, and rather happy: Amanda is leaving and he has a lead on the case! Lee is all chirpy that there is nothing to worry about.. but it seems this is the first chance they have had to talk since Amanda’s interrogation of Connie.. I think Amanda was looking for some kind of amends to be made from Lee here.. She asks if he wants to drive her because he is worried about her but Lee is a little oblivious! Then Amanda hints again saying:  Well, I hope you can use the information that Conrad gave me to catch the Mongoose. [Amanda would have said ‘us’ in the past.. IMO.. so she is stepping up a little here and taking credit for what she did – hurray! I say!!) Lee finally is reminded of his obligation here

Lee: Well, we’re sure going to try…
Listen, uh . . .
Amanda, uh ..
[Amanda smiles a little, and patiently waits for Lee to step up-you clever girl you!] . . you were right about Conrad. [Love how Lee shakes his head when he says this –like he is saying at the same time: I was wrong! ] ….er ah.. you did get him to talk. So, uh. . . .
Lee is really struggling here!

Amanda: You’re welcome.
[Amanda knows Lee, and knows he doesn’t say thank you.. well at least, not with words So Amanda is happy-Lee sort of acknowledged she was right – he needed her- and her contribution!] Just then the bus pulls up and Lee is saved by the bells err I mean bus!
Sounding (and looking!) relieved Lee points out the bus has arrived tee heee..
Amanda holds her hand out to Lee and they shake hands..
Amanda: Well, goodbye, take care of yourself, and please take good care of Conrad.

Lee: All he has to do is point out the Mongoose.
Amanda nods and hops on the bus.. though she is hesitant to leave.. calling out to Lee here:
(Amanda) : Oh, just remember. Conrad has a way of getting himself into trouble.
Lee: Like someone else I know. [duh duh duuhhhh now there is a big foreshadowing statement right there!! Lee if you know that about Amanda- why didn’t you take her to the airport???!!! ]The bus starts moving and Amanda stumbles – there she goes getting herself into trouble teee hee… very cute! Love the expressions that cross over Lee’s face as he cheerfully tells Amanda it sounds just like her.. the bus drives away, and Lee seems to be thinking about Amanda- yep! She’s one in a million isn’t she Lee! and he knows her now.. awhhhh!!!!
Lee isn’t so great with moments hey, but it is a hint that it is there in him, and he is starting to see it, and ( shocking!) to actually express it to Amanda- that she is a great person and partner.. Amanda is wise with Lee, she lets him say what he is comfortable saying and accepts it graciously.. She is a classy lady! Ok this has bugged me for a long time with this scene- LOL.. Both Lee and Amanda are now wearing different outfits! heheee Did seeing Amanda off call for double breasted rather than single breasted jacket Lee? It’s understandable Amanda would change before a long flight, but then if she went back to the hotel, why does she have no luggage at all?

Aha! but I think I have solved the puzzle of the random wardrobe change! This episode was filmed just before Bromfield Hall ( also set in London) – maybe even concurrently..[even though Bromfield hall is episode 8 of season two!] soooo when you watch Bromfield Hall- you will see Lee is wearing this exact sudden random outfit in Bromfield hall!! (the handkerchief is slightly different and his tie is different, so they have tried to change the outfit a little- but they’re the only differences) Lee only wears this outfit for this one scene in to catch a mongoose! I am sure it is the same, he even has on the same grey pants. There are many moments like this where the episodes cross over but I’ll keep that for my Bromfield hall post..I’ll stop obsessing over Lee’s wardrobe.. for now.. ahem..

Amanda is enjoying seeing London, and feeling relaxed and carefree.. some time for Amanda to herself? I am sure that is rare!! but.. it doesn’t last for long, the mongoose is doing some sight seeing too. It is so awful how Amanda is happy to see him- ugh!! and then he slams her by giving her his business card – creep! I want Lee to interrogate him!!! Amanda, it appears you are not going home to your children.(just yet)
Argh! Poor Amanda, kidnapped yet again..in fact this is the second time this episode!!! man..twice in the first episode of season 2? Amanda this season is looking a bit scary for you!   Mongoose: You’re now working for me. (muahahahaa!)

Lee is waiting for the mongoose to appear at covent garden-yes? He thinks the mongoose is going to show up and do his own work? I’m surprised they thought that, they should have known better. So Scotland Yard and Lee have covent garden surrounded.. Connie is waiting with Lee to point out the mongoose..

Conrad: Are you sure about this?
Lee: Look, Conrad. The Mongoose had you memorize a five-stop walking tour of London, right?
Conrad: Right.
Lee: Now he has to exchange those diamonds for cash. Now based on what I know of him, he’d never make just one drop. He’d keep on the move and make several.
Conrad: But you’re just covering Covered Garden.
Lee: Even Scotland Yard doesn’t have enough men to blanket each drop. I’ve got lookouts on all four of them, but this is where we’re going to throw the net over him.
Conrad: I hope he comes.
Lee: Just keep your eyes open and point him out to me. He’ll come, I promise you. I know he’ll come.
Lee, you know diddly!
This is interesting!! Seems to me Lee is making the same mistake!! Amanda was the one who knew Connie, but Lee didn’t listen to her, he knew Connie was the mongoose – why listen to Amanda? she just actually knows the guy! And here we have Connie, who actually knows the Mongoose, not sure that this is going to work.. not sure that the mongoose will come – but Lee doesn’t want to hear it. He doesn’t cut off Connie or anything, but he isn’t asking Connie any questions – again it’s a case of point out the mongoose to me and that’s it.. when he should have gotten more info from the person in the know! Ahhh Lee.. I think he gets better at this as the show progresses.. but for now – he stinks at it ( Like a doulon doux camembert! )
Err can I just say here, I love how at this point in the show, they have Lee back in his Bob outfit for some reason (minus the beard) and they have put Connie in a Cardigan.. yep a cardy!! real tough guy outfit that one! I don’t think Lee even wore cardigan when in disguise.. ever!! rofl!! a very well written, gorgeous episode.. and they go and stick two random wardrobe changes for Lee smack in the middle.- did they think we wouldn’t notice??!! LOL…

Poor Amanda!! this baddie is awful the way he just seems to constantly hurt her arm as they are walking and he lays out his evil plans.. (mauahahaha).. Poor Amanda! The mongoose is all over Lee.. and is going to skip Covent Garden, he knows there are police about.. he is sending in Amanda to collect a million bucks and hand over a pouch of diamonds. (the breakdancing in the background is a bit random isn’t it! ) is that break dancing because the mongoose is close to breaking Amanda wrist?!!

The mongoose kills the scotland yard guy.. watching the tower of London, too easy.. grrrr. Amanda approaches the diamond buyer, and does the trade.. the whole time Amanda is wishing the police would see her.. poor Amanda!! I really feel her fear here!! Love how she gets the diamond buyer to pay the right amount.. good job Amanda!

Lee starting to get antsy.. something isn’t right.. but he knows the mongoose! He’ll come! Leeee!!!
Lee: He’s got to come. I know the man! He’s not going to turn away from that kind of money.
Conrad: So where is he!!
Lee: I don’t know. Maybe he spotted us. You’re the one he’s afraid of, you’re the only one who can recognize him.
Conrad: Yeah, just me. And Amanda.

 

Lee: Amanda????!!!!!

Conrad: She was sitting next to him the other night in the casino.
Lee: Well, why didn’t you tell me that? [you didn’t ask!!! ]
Conrad: I didn’t think it was important. She doesn’t know she was sitting next to the Mongoose, Amanda doesn’t know what he looks like.
Lee: Yeah, well, the Mongoose certainly knows what Amanda looks like!
Conrad: Well, Amanda’s safe! She’s on her way home on a plane!
Time to get that brain of yours in gear!!
The moment where Lee realises Amanda is in big danger is very swoonworthy!! whooo Cue ‘intense man on a mission and Amanda is in big time Danger’ Lee!!!!

Finally, Lee starts thinking! He calls Billy to ask him to check if she boarded her flight- Billy responds: “You got it!” errr.. this is Billy right? Billy Melrose? the man who is suppose to be Lee’s boss???? who should really be saying ‘You’ve got to be kidding me! get a flunky to check the computer for you!!!!’ a flunky like francine maybe! hehehe..

While they wait for Billy to check the computers (LOL!) Lee explains to Conrad (notice he still isn’t asking..tee hee) : Since we have you, he needs someone else to be his drop man for the diamonds. Maybe it would seem a great deal to use one of our own people. [now you’re thinking!!! ]
Billy says it’s a negative, she never boarded the flight.. and Lee looks dark!!!! and very still for a moment.. like he is fighting a rising panic!!
Lee: He’s got her. DAMMIT!!! I knew I should have taken her to the airport!
Conrad: Lee, now Amanda’s in trouble we’ve got to think!
[Lee is indeed quiet and thoughtful].. Now what would I do if I were the Mongoose?
Lee: Start the pickup somewhere else. . . . Start at the opposite end of the tour! That means Willins, Tower of London, right?
Lee calling over the radio: Willins, report in, over. Willins, come in.Willins report in over. Willins come in this is scarecrow over.

LOL! see those arches behind Lee?? and there is a sign sticking out the side of that building behind him? that is where the mongoose just walked earlier with Amanda when he was twisting her arm! The breakdancing is right around the corner!

See the white sign? above that there is a balcony we can just see.. that’s where Lee is standing talking into his radio!! Sooooo close!!

No answer.. looks like London Tower isn’t under surveillance anymore.. Lee calls in Keaton and tells them all to spread out.. he is headed to St Catherine’s dock..

Amanda and the Mongoose are down at the dock (where Lee is headed? ohhh what luck! ) Amanda points out to the mongoose she is the mother of two small boys. I don’t think he cares Amanda.. In fact he’d probably enjoy it even more knowing that – he probably hated his mother and killed her when he was 8! muahahaaha..

Lee and Connie arrive at the docks.. hmm good thing Amanda is in all white – she kind of stands out Lee sees Amanda doing her hand over on a boat.. Lee hands Connie the radio and tells him to contact Keaton and tell him what’s going on.. Whooo and Lee stops a sailor for a  chat.. ( we know it’s to get his coat and hat ) Amanda finishes up her hand over, and Connie spots the mongoose…

We see Amanda walking along the boat with her briefcase of the Mongoose’s money – Lee walks past her in his sailor disguise – LOL for a second Amanda doesn’t recognise him! she has to do a double take poor Amanda!

Ohhh dear.. the mongoose surprises them- dig the snake sound effect as the mongoose makes his move – lol!! Yes.. he can outwit a snake! He can outwit a scarecrow!  

I love the look Lee gives him as Amanda hands over the briefcase – ‘you’re scum mongoose’!!!

Suddenly Connie lunges at the mongoose taking him by surprise, and Lee automatically pushes Amanda back and out of the way of danger ( awh!!!) the mongoose gets in one shot at Connie and then takes off with Lee in hot pursuit.. whoo he left all his money behind too..suffer mongoose.. Connie calls out to Lee that the mongoose has a dagger under his sleeve on his right arm.. Lee yells out ‘ charming’ as he runs away after the mongoose..
Amanda goes to help Connie.. he’s been shot in the leg!
Amanda: Oh, Conrad! Oh, that was a very brave thing to do.

Conrad: Yeah, that was the first really brave thing I ever did in my life. Really stupid, too.
[Stupid? nah!!]
The whole let’s catch the mongoose while jumping around the dock on different boats and walkways is a big yawn!. ( do you think it was in Bruce’s contract- must have 10 minutes of action scenes?? ) Anywaaaaaay..

How humiliating!! check out the stunt double for the mongoose.. he goes from this…To this:  Whahaahaa!!!

That is suppose to be the mongoose sliding down the stairs and running from Lee?.. too funny!!!
Hey this isn’t so dull after all.. Check out how Lee is transformed by swinging across all the boats on the rope!

Not Lee!! Yeah.. nahhh still not that intersting actually.. the light is completely different from the mongoose’s angle to Lee’s as they have their big fight… ohhh yawn…. The bad blonde wig makes another appearance and slides down the rope off the boat.. whooo and stunt Lee dangles off the side of the boat.. yawn.. Come on cue the hero music.. and put this little finale out of it’s misery! Lee takes a running dive at the really bad blonde wig.. the Mongoose pulls a dagger out of is Left sleeve.. taking Lee by surprise.. but.. hey enough already..

Ok.. I’ll sum up the big action finale for ya: Lee Wins! or… maybe it is stunt Lee who beats bad wig mongoose..but then.. who cares! I think if BB watched this ending these days he’d roll around with laughter.. it is soooo bad!!!
And to top it all off? Lee yells out to the water police as they collect the mongoose out of the water: He’s all yours boys! Get that shark out of my sight! whahahaah!! err shark? eh?? bit random.. but err ok! Mongoose shark hamster whatever
Amanda helps Connie hobble back to the car..
Conrad: You won’t forget what I said at Scotland Yard? It’s true, you know. It’ll always be true.
Amanda: Thank you, Conrad.

Finally scotland yard show up.. too funny.. yep Lee just fixed everything! Ugh!!!
Lee: you’re late!
Keaton: my apologies old man.
Lee: yeah well you’ll find our friend in the Thames. (Lee is so dismissive!! err this is just their country! but hey.. Lee is the hero of this show and no one else is going to be a hero! Lee will be nicer to Keaton when he is back in Bromfield Hall, and Lee is accused of murder )

Lee has a go at Connie for mixing his left with his right or whatever… Connie is very apologetic but Amanda smooths it over saying its nothing.. I mean come on Lee Connie got shot trying to help you and gave you the chance you needed to catch the mongoose! ( ah so it is not just Amanda that Lee is like that with )
Cute: Connie thanks Lee and Amanda for helping him! Both Lee and Amanda in unison say: “What are friends for! “.. they grin, look at each other  and shake hands with each other- almost like they are just saying it to each other.. not really to Connie!  Connie looks very concerned looking from Lee to Amanda and watching this take place!! Poor Connie… he’s too late!!! hehehee.. (well actually maybe not.. Lee drags his feet for a long time! )

Gee I hope someone eventually mentioned the briefcase, Amanda and Connie left it on the boat

Wow.. this post is huge already, I will leave it there before moving on to the tag of this episode.. as always I would love to hear from you guys out there in big wide cyberspace reading my smk thoughts on this episode.. if you would like to add your own thoughts on this episode, ask questions.. offer feedback or comment about my post feel free to join in the discussion Thanks so much for reading! byee for now!