4/13 Season Two, Episode 12: Ship of Spies-Scarecrow and Mrs King

On to cabin C-24… Lee is checking their suitcase –Hmm maybe this is why he didn’t ask Amanda to come along  The occupants of this cabin happen to be the two lovebirds we saw earlier! They return to their room and get up to some serious lovin while Lee hides out in the closet – ROFL!  Tooooooo funny!!!
We leave Lee looking not pleased ( is this a reference to the night he spent sleeping in the closet in Weekend?) … not pleased to be stuck in their closet and listening to them! haaaa suffer Lee.. [I’m glad he doesn’t look happy – if he did? I might think he was a perve! ]

I Love this look he gives when they turn the lights out!

Then, we cut immediately to: Amanda opening her closet to put her clothes away! haaa! Good one!
I see Amanda packed her sexy nightie! ahem..

There’s a knock at Amanda’s cabin door, Amanda calls out ‘ Lee?’ and hears there is a telegram for Mr Stetson.

Amanda opens the door –it’s the baddie Rackam.. he introduces himself to Amanda..
Rackam: I’m Mr Rackam, your cruise director. I’m in charge of all – Well, most of your recreational  activities.

uh oh… he has a moustache Amanda: SMK code for- Baddie!!!!! [Unless it’s Billy!] This guy is gross.. I don’t want to hear him comment on his guest’s personal recreational activities- ugh!

Amanda tells Rackam Lee is ‘ indisposed’ .. and she takes the telegram. Okaaaay. After calling out ‘Lee?’ like she thinks it may be him at the door – she then tells the guy that Lee is indisposed? Amanda you are a rotten liar! If he were indisposed why did you think it could be him at the door?

We see a shot of the ship at sunset.. my goodness just how long is Lee trapped in that closet for?! We see Lee finally escaping cabin C-24! Love how he opens the door so quietly- sneaks out, then sees Amanda and closes the cabin door audibly behind him! Clunk!!   Then.. they stand in front of that cabin door and proceed to have a conversation – LOL! This is not the episode to watch and learn spying 101 is it!

So Amanda gives Lee the telegram.. Lee was cross at her finding him- hmm maybe Lee was feeling a bit dirty after what he had been eavesdropping on!! Lee opens the telegram and reads..

Lee explains to Amanda: Well, it seems one of our new recruits in Cryptography blew it. Orlando’s message wasn’t “ship of lies.”

Amanda: what was it?
Lee: ship of spies! [ SOS!!] Cue the serious looks, dramatic music and a commercial break!

Okay, tell me if I have this right.. what’s happened is:  Orlando transmitted a verbal message by radio somewhere to be relayed on to Scarecrow..

BLUE DOLPHIN TO SCARECROW…BLUE DOLPHIN TO SCARECROW…CODE FIVE…WINTER CONDITIONS…REPEAT…CODE FIVE…
24C SHIP OF LIES…REPEAT…24C SHIP OF LIES

I guess this message was in code??  Using coded language rather than coded words like ‘Slymph’!?? Is that right? And so Orlando’s audio message was transcribed incorrectly by crypto [What we did hear him say was slightly different anyway so I don’t know!] – crypto transcribe do they? I thought they decoded things..words like ‘slymph’ [or like words on that long list Zhmed has to memorise in No Thanks for the Memory]  help?

And.. isn’t it a security risk to be sending a coded telegram saying it’s ‘ship of spies’ ?? It’s thinly veiled.. it’s pretty clear the coded message is saying the ship is bad- really really bad! it puts Lee and Amanda at risk doesn’t it? Why would Orlando tell Lee ‘ship of spies’ anyway? I wouldn’t call these baddies spies. Are they? Maybe insurgents. Or greedy bloodsuckers..  

Well, moving on.. it’s daytime again! I guess this is the next morning.. Hey! What did Lee and Amanda do the night before? Just how long was Lee stuck in C-24! I hate it when we don’t find out what they did! but then.. I guess it leaves room for the fantastic imaginations of all smk fan fic writers!!! [You all amaze me! Writing fiction makes me dizzy] Anyone read one accounting for their whereabouts on the first night of the cruise?

On to champagne brunch- Lee and Amanda are seated with Myles and Jillian and another couple- who we saw bump into Jillian as the ship was leaving the dock.. Miles and Jillian are sitting at opposite ends of the long table..
Jillian to Lee: We missed you at dinner last night.
Lee: Ah. [He nods and shyly smiles, he’s noticed the attention he’s getting from Jillian- I love to watch Amanda here.. calmly noting Lee’s reaction!   I don’t think she’s jealous though- does anyone think that? ]

Miles: Actually, we missed, uh, everyone at dinner last night.

Jillian: Well, I told you everyone liked to unpack the first night out.
Miles: Well, ha! I don’t think, uh…

, …everyone was unpacking last night. Right, Lee?
[Ah the couple from C-24 are still kissing! Funny that Miles says ’right Lee?’ when Lee was hiding in this couple’s closet the night before and can actually confirm Miles’ statement I wonder: does Myles know the couple is in C-24? As a baddie he knows the telegram said C-24..who kows.. Well, anyway-  Myles is annoying.. ugh.. nudge nudge. Oh purlease! ]
Lee: Huh? Oh, yeah, right ha! Lee politely laughs..

Oops.. Lee accidentally glances Jillian’s way and she joins in Lee’s laughter..

All her attention on Lee!

Lee clears his throat and moves the conversation on by talking to the third couple! Awk-ward!!!!
Arturo introduces himself: Arturo Rodriguez.
Carmen: Carmen Valdez.

Lee: Uh, Lee Stetson.
Amanda: Amanda King.
Lee: Uh, where are you two from?
[Together] Arturo: Mexico. Carmen: Mexico City.
Miles: You, uh, you two, uh, known each other long?
Arturo: Oh, no, no, no. We just met. Uh, only one week away. Uh, we, how you say, uh, fell in love at  first eyes.  [ I love his accent ]

Lee: Oh. [He laughs.] ha ha haaa Yeah. [I love Lee’s and Amanda’s reactions to this- very sweet! ]

Miles: Hmm. [To Lee and Amanda] What about…what about you two? Why don’t you fill us in on your,  uh, your background?  [Background? What is this an interview?]
Amanda: Well…
Lee: Yeah, well, we haven’t really told each other much about our pasts.
Amanda: We don’t talk about it.  [Well done! They do a good job here together- Amanda immediately picking up on where Lee was going! ]

LOL- but here is Lee’s ‘tell’ again! He’s waving his hand around as he comes up with a story!!!
Lee: We prefer really an element of, uh, mystery in our relationship.  [Nice way of also saying: it’s not any of your business either!   and cutting off all further questions! Love how Amanda licks her lips here as she watches Lee answer ]

Jillian: That’s so romantic.
Lee: Yeah.
Call me crazy.. but here even Arturo and Carmen seem to notice just how attentive Jillian is being of Lee!

Lee and Amanda’s cover is a bit flimsy.. but does cut off further questioning nicely! How much mystery do you want with the person you’re about to Marry?! This whole idea is raised again in the season 4 episode Need to Know- in a very fun, clever way!!!

Mr Rackam approaches the table.. he hopes everyone is enjoying their brunch. Lee takes this opportunity to say yes he is.. a friend of his had taken this cruise previously and said the brunches were the Best: Orlando Gravas – heard of him?? [ is there a significance to the white flag flapping behind Rackam here?] Rackam lies and says he doesn’t remember him.. and changes the subject- the tour of the bridal shop is about to commence! 

Oh funny.. as the women all get up, watch Jillian.. she says bye to Miles, and then makes a special effort to wave to Lee and say bye to him haaaa! – SMK is great at those little touches which can go unnoticed but which add to the storytelling!

With the ladies gone, Myles starts in with his questions again.. Arturo, or ‘Artie’ as Myles has decided he should be called – is not interested in answering anymore questions and he leaves I think that couple should be called Mr and Mrs Herring.. as in Red Herring.. all the pouring his milk, stirring his coffee for him stuff? was so over the top it’s just annoyingly obvious they are lying.. and that they are: Red Herrings!

So Amanda went to look at wedding dresses huh…. Haaa. that I would have liked to see!

Well.. I shall finish up there for now!! Any comments?? ideas? questions? I would love to hear from you!!! byeeeee back with more soon..