3/13 Season Two, Episode 13: Spiderweb-Scarecrow and Mrs King

Amanda is busting to find out what happened last night.. and moves the conversation on from Bryce! What’s Lee involved with?? Man.. she wishes she could be a part of it!
Amanda: at any rate… I could hardly sleep all night thinking about what happened and I know it was probably agency business.. so..may I ask what it was about?

Lee: no you may not.

Hey- worth a try! Amanda’s a bit disappointed, but she accepts it. Amanda: right!

I love that Lee doesn’t mind her asking, and she doesn’t mind him saying no- they seem to understand the rules of the game here  and they’re comfortable with each other now aren’t they! Lee gives the most adorable smile in response to her acceptance of his no! Almost like he is proud of her

Lee smiles.. and then suddenly his brain kicks in..
Lee: what are you doing here?  [aha! she does work without you now Lee! ]

Amanda: Oh I’m here doing some expense reports for Mr Melrose.
Alas.. it is boring accounts.. Amanda would prefer to be involved in the big stuff..but she is faithfully taking on what she’s been asked to do with her typical enthusiasm, optimism and vigour! To make it interesting, she’s turned it into a game for herself!

Lee: Ohhh terrific! ( as in ugh!)
Lee chuckles.. Amanda: I guess it’s the code words that make it seem sort of like a game. (I love how we hear Lee saygenuinely  ‘haaha yeah!’ at this  – we know he doesn’t find accounts interesting: but.. he finds Amanda interesting! 😉 )  You know, there’s somebody at this agency who just sits around and comes up with those code words all day? 

[Amanda’s enthusiasm here is so cute!] Sandstorm! Spiderweb! MmmHmm!
[Why would Amanda be excited at the mention of Sandstorm?? LOL!! The operation she screwed up??!!  Ahhh she must know about our smk transcription project called Operation Sandstorm! yes I’m giving it a plug!  It’s a chance to get involved!  I would love to have guest blog contributors too don’t forget!! If you are so inspired!! ]
Lee: Spiderweb?!! [great poker face Lee- Not!!]

Amanda: yeah Spiderweb! That’s a really weird one! Look see nothing on this report is itemised, it just says classified? and then a dollar amount.
I would ask you what it is but, since it’s classified..?

Of all the moments to get curious! … unfortunate!
Lee seems really thrown by how Amanda could know this code word.. not as ‘eyes only’ as you thought hey Lee!
Do you think he suspects her?
I don’t.. but I wonder if the writers wanted to misdirect us here a bit- and have us think early on that Lee might doubt her, only to later learn that he never did for a moment- it certainly adds to the storytelling if that’s what they were going for. What do you think?  feel free to have your say!

I think his reaction here is shock that someone knew the code word-  Not suspecting Amanda- just really thrown off balance..IMHO!
Of all the codenames for Amanda to come across.. I guess Margaret somehow got Amanda to do those accounts in the hopes Amanda would ask?? [this set-up is at times a bit of a stretch!]
Lee responds nervously: Ahhh it’s classified..

Amanda nods in response, like: I figured as much
Billy calls: Scarecrow!
For Lee to get in his office!
Amanda says to Lee: Saved by the bell!  

Lee laughs nervously: ha yeah!!!
He pats Amanda on the arm and starts walking towards Billy’s office..
I find this line of Amanda’s sooo interesting!! … remember the episode Saved by the bells?? Where Amanda gets kidnapped and Lee helps her out of trouble, a trouble she really doesn’t have any comprehension of? To me.. this episode is a similar situation, with another case of mistaken identity thrown in for good measure – Amanda identified as the double agent..  (just sans the kidnap and treason!) It’s not in the script at all..but.. I like to think the writer’s did this on purpose- so I will! hehehe..

Amanda is looking very pretty in this scene I think. Her hair is really lovely.. I want to scream – please don’t cut her hair!!!!!!!

Amanda: Lee?
Lee: hmm?

Amanda: I’m glad that you weren’t hurt last night. (oh my!!! Does Lee look genuinely touched by this or what??!!)

Lee: I’m glad you’re ok too

LOL.. at this, Amanda licks her lips

and responds :  thanks

Lee: bye ( wow.. now he actually says bye!) Smiling, Lee turns and heads into Billy’s office to leave Amanda to her accounts  Amanda calls ‘bye!’ back..
This farewell here has a new vibe- would you say?   Amanda is showing her care for Lee, and Lee is becoming more comfortable with this- happy even! And.. he even reciprocates! Wow!
Call me crazy, but I think Amanda not being madly in love with Lee at this point is helpful to Lee- it gives him the freedom to relax and grow comfortable in expressing his friendship and caring for her.. which is important IMHO for Lee given his history (hmm I should post about that sometime!)and important for the eventual development of their love for one another.. 

A couple of thoughts before I move on: doesn’t the agency have accountants to do the accounts?
And.. you would think if Amanda had been at the restuarant when Folescu was killed that at the very least, they would have interviewed her to ask what she saw that night.. how she came to be there etc. It seems Folesu got killed and then everyone just went home!

BTW- Look how the guy playing Bryce Topping, Ben Seagren was listed in the end credits.. I’ve never noticed that before!! I just happened to google his name! LOL..  I wonder if anyone else has been listed that way! (maybe Arlene Francis?..) if you find any others please let us know!

On to the Nursery, and time to meet the baddies properly.. we hear the female baddie (Rina)say: It would have been nice if you could have taken out the agents instead of a lot of glassware [ROFL! I think the writer’s have cottoned on to how ridiculous the friendly smk shooter is time to explain! ]
Julian the baddie: If I’d taken the agents out I would have taken you out too Rina.

Nick (the young waiter): I think it went pretty well.
Julian: Folescu is only the first, let’s save ourselves congratulations until after the work is done!
Uh oh.. they’re pretty confident thanks to their information and having a ‘pipeline into the agency’. whoooo!! Who could it be?? whooooooo..
Julian gets all lofty ugh: This is the biggest thing we’ve ever attempted. To assassinate right here on American soil and in full view of the agents that promised them protection.

Nick: there is a secondary benefit to that, we prove that our intelligence is superior!


Julian with great gravitas: the next arrival will be… Milos Durak!!!!!!

How will they get him? They’ll be given their fabulous insider info.. meanwhile.. they can gloat away happily and give evil laughs! LOL.. this week the baddies are of the ideological variety!
You know for years.. I thought this Rina Character was the same actress who played Alice Babcock in Rumours of my death, in season 4.. man.. I had it wrong!!! they’re not the same lady at all!! did anyone else think that?

When I stop and think about the plot of this episode.. it all seems quite familiar ( aside from the similarities to saved by the bells I mentioned) The scene is set for three things to take place – the first thing happens- and the agency realises they have a leak – eek! Will they find the leak in time before the second and third thing happens? who is the leak? Oh, and Amanda is dating a new man….

Sound familiar?? it’s the same as the episode I wish I could forget: the Artful Dodger!!! – where there were three sets of plans the baddie needed to steal ( and here? three defectors that must be stopped) – and the baddies are able to operate because they have an inside source of information! Ironically in the Artless dodger- Amanda really was the leak!!!! rofl!!! and here? she’s only accused of being the leak 😉 You know, given that history – you would think they would be checking her for bugs or something! 

I must finish up there… Hope you are enjoying this episode! Any thoughts you’d like to share?  byeeee and thanks for reading!!!