Amanda returns home to pick up her cheque book- fortuitously interrupting Lee’s search of her house.
He hides around the corner from her, peeking around, he sees it is Amanda reaching for her cheque book.. hmmm… he sees it’s Amanda and continues to hide – why does he not immediately reveal himself? thoughts???
[I think he is a little ashamed of what he was ordered to do.]
Lee bumps the dining room (or Soviet embassy, take your pick 
) door and alerts Amanda to the presence of something- He really isn’t a cat Burglar!
This noise stops Amanda from leaving- she throws down her coat and wallet and picks up the baseball bat- prepared to confront whatever the noise is- I’m impressed!!!
If that was me I would have run for the front door! But no.. Amanda has come along way – and she’s standing her ground! This is her house, and whatever it is: is going to have to deal with her
Amanda rocks!
Lee continues to try and evade discovery.. till he sees Amanda going after the noise..He doesn’t see the baseball bat- though maybe he heard it..
he sneaks up on her from behind and grabs for the 
baseball bat. She nearly gets him with it! LOL!!!
I was worried.. she could have clocked Lee! Whoa! Amanda actually screams!! A real scream! LOL.. Why didn’t he just calmly call out that it was him? Okay.. this way is much more intense and dramatic.. and we are wondering if Lee will indeed reveal his presence.. which he wisely does after some hesitation!
I think Lee’s bump which alerted Amanda to his presence was a ‘Freudian slip’ , Freud said there were no such things as accidents! Lee bumps something and has to tell Amanda what’s going on [Freud would say his unconscious wanted to be open with Amanda ].
Lee: Nooo!!! [grabbing the bat] it’s me. It’s me!
Amanda: Leeee!!!!
Lee: It’s me..
Deep breaths all around!
Lee: are you okay?
Amanda gives him a smile: Hello.
Lee: I’m sorry.
Amanda: It’s alright.
Lee: ( continuing) I’m sorry if I scared you. I heard the front door and didn’t know if it might be your mother.
This moment is very much like the moment in Brunettes are In! When they are both holding the lamp!! Both times, Amanda has been terrified.. only this time, when they part – Lee momentarily holds her hand…Awh!
Amanda: yes, well you didn’t scare me at all (LOL Amanda.. we all know that isn’t true! but I guess she means she’s okay!).. What are you doing here?
Lee opens his mouth to answer- but he notices the map of Czechoslovakia and is immediately distracted.
Lee: Czechoslovakia! He walks over to take a closer look.
Amanda: Oh! Yes! Do you like that? That’s Phillip’s project.
Lee: That’s Czechoslovakia! [LOL Lee is in a different dimension to Amanda here! ]
Amanda points out the map’s highlights LOL!
Amanda: yes that’s Czechoslovakia! That’s Prague. It’s very good isn’t it?
Suddenly we cut back to Lee looking much much happier!
Lee: That’s why you went to the Czech Embassy
Amanda: oh yes and they were very, very helpful and very nice. [LOL love how she doesn’t notice he knows she went to the Czech embassy!]
Lee is almost ecstatic! LOL: And… and it was for a school project!!! [Amanda must be thinking Lee loved geography class ]
Amanda: Sure! Phillip’s school project! Czechoslovakia.
Lee: and I’ll bet all the electronic parts you bought were for something just as innocent. Right? [lol the penny still hasn’t dropped with Amanda – how does he know that?!]
Amanda looks at the floor ashamed.. Lee can’t think what could possibly make her ashamed.. because well… she’s not a double agent..
Lee: What?
Amanda takes a deep breath and confesses!: I’m trying to build a radio transmitter but ah.. I can’t do it.
[Love Lee’s stunned look here- what are you saying Amanda??!! this doesn’t compute! LOL!]
Lee: Radio Transmitter.
Amanda: yeah. Well, it’s for Jamie’s science project 
and I just don’t think it’s gonna be as good as Phillip’s geography project.
At this, we see Lee with his back to camera tip his head back and let out a huge belly laugh!
Amanda: I mean really..
Lee: – I told them it was something like that!!!!
Lee looks sooo happy!!!! and relieved!! but then.. it hits him.. err we still have a problem here!
He’s so funny.. and touching. Don’t you just love 
Lee’s joy at finding the map of Czechoslovakia.. and how he just can’t contain his happiness in having that mystery explained???!!! Amanda is happy Lee is happy but has no idea why! hehehe.. Love how he throws his head back in laughter – he literally looks like the weight of the world has been lifted off of his shoulders- it really, really mattered to Lee that Amanda be who he thinks she is.. It’s ok Lee!!! Yep, Amanda is his true north now.. only I don’t think he quite realises it..
Lee’s smile drops suddenly and he says flatly: Amanda you’re in trouble.
Amanda: I’m a what?
Lee seriously: You’re in trouble with the agency….
[deep breath Lee]…that’s why….
….I was searching your house.
Amanda pointedly: Searching my house?!!!!
Lee very quietly: Yeah
[I find that little ‘ yeah’ so touching!!!]
Cranky Amanda: What! for?!
Lee seems really quite upset here.. In this moment.. he seems to be thinking – this is such a dirty business, I can’t believe they made me do this! and to Amanda of all people!! He looks really quite ashamed of what he was ordered to do.. and he regrets needing to tell Amanda.. awhhh!!!!
Lee then seems to realise here: Wait a minute! I need to get some answers here!
If he’s going to be of any use in fixing all this.. he’s going to need to get his professional mindset back and focus on what’s at hand.. He tries to take control back of the situation.
Lee takes Amanda by the arms as she demands: Why were you searching my house?!
He steers her over to the arm of the couch to sit down….
while he stands! Way to dominate Lee..
Lee’s motivation here, IMHO, is to give himself the chance to get his strong emotions under better control.. he is too cute here how he tries to be all professional with Amanda- but they are beyond that! and Amanda makes that very clear!! 🙂
It’s interesting that while at first it seems Lee was trying to avoid Amanda discovering that he was searching her house – he actually ends up voluntarily admitting it to her – he didn’t have to tell her I think, he could have said he came to ask her something.. but I think once he was actually talking to her, he knew it was the right thing to do- to be honest with her. Awh!!
For Lee, IMHO, this is huge- as Lee typically doesn’t let people know the true Lee- His life is a big lie to maintain his cover.. he certainly wouldn’t volunteer information he could get away with not telling.. but with Amanda?- he was compelled to tell her- this is different!! Very significant IMHO!
Sorry I’ve got to split this scene up – or it will be another 3 or 4 days before you get a really big post.. this way you get two smaller posts but more often! but I promise I’ll be back with the second half soon as I can! Got any thoughts about this wonderfully fabulous scene you’d like to share?? [I understand it’s tricky in the middle of a scene- feel free to discuss the whole scene if you prefer 🙂 )
I’d love to hear from you – byeee for now and thanks for joining in the fun!!!
"Just walk with me.." 
“True north,” so on the spot iwsod! Lee has learned to trust someone at last, a big development in the evolution of their relationship and for him personally. Isn’t it a joy to watch him get to this point and demonstrate his complete faith in Amanda! I agree that this feels like comes after Relative just because it adds to the forward progress of their relationship.
And because I just saw a Moody Blues concert, these lyrics are stuck in my head, but to me fit the moment from Lee’s perspective:
“I don’t know what I’m searching for
I never have opened the door,
Tomorrow might find me at last,
Turning my back on the past…
All my life I never really knew me till today,
Now I know why, I’m just another step along the way.
I lie awake for hours, I’m just waiting for the sun.
When the journey we are making has begun”
Yes, I know, I am down too many rabbit holes at once yet they all seem to be converging. Must be kismet!
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This is what I was going to say: Lee’s motivation here, IMHO, is to give himself the chance to get his strong emotions under better control.. he is too cute here how he tries to be all professional!
Yes, Lee tries and fails to be professional about this. He is really glad that everything IS innocent as he thought, but then he realizes that although he believes these are innocent that all the other “evidence” cannot be explained as easily. It is not that he has to go back to being professional, it is that he realizes the following: innocent or not they still have to PROVE to the Agency that she IS innocent and now BOTH of them have to work together to do this. And Amanda has told him in no uncertain terms that she needs to be told the truth and this is the time for him to do it…
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Lee has always told Amanda more than he should, he can’t seem to help it. Here he knows that he needs to be truthful to her. It’s important to him that she understand the trouble she’s in (a lot like another season epi). His smile shows that his faith in her is rewarded. She’s shown (and continues to show) such faith in him that he needed that confirmation. Another step in realizing how much he cares about her and how much she means to him.
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I think you must be right about the “Freudian slip”….I mean come on! This is Lee Stetson here – one of the top American agents! Surely all his years of training have taught him how to move around undetected ; )
I think he realizes as he’s walking through the Soviet embassy, um, dining room, just how ridiculous the situation is and that he needs to talk to Amanda – his true north (love that concept!) I think he never really does believe for a second that she is a double agent although the $50K deposit in her savings account that morning has thrown him for a loop. He needs to get to the bottom of all this here and now in her house, not at the agency with Francine, Billy and Larner looking on. He needs to have his full trust in her restored because we know she is the only person he trusts (other than a certain antiquarian we will meet in the future). Once he’s accomplished this for himself, he can go back to the agency and start convincing Billy and Francine that Amanda is being set up.
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I agree, BJo. I think the alarm about the $50K was not one of suspicion of Amanda, but rather the realization of the high stakes of the game that someone was playing with Amanda’s life.
Consciously, I think Lee’s initial thought was definitely to get out of the house without Amanda knowing that there had been suspicions of her. He probably would have liked to have simply shared the whole sordid story with her after the fact once it was all resolved, perhaps over a beer like good buddies do, no doubt casually highlighting his faith in her and how he found the evidence that was needed to be her white knight. But as I think about it, I think the comments about the subconscious are right on the money. Subconsciously, distressed Lee probably did want to tell all to Amanda, not simply to confess but because he needs her. Ironically, she would understand his pain better than anyone else he knows, and he craves that comfort she offers during moments like this.
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I can understand him wanting to talk to her. I like to make sure things are clear in any relationships that I have and if I have doubts or questions I feel better hearing it straight from the person. IMHO Lee needs to know straight from Amanda what she is involved in (or in this case what she is not involved in). Absolutely love his laugh here and how he delivers it…shear relief 🙂
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Hi guys! this is a fabulous scene isn’t it! I was sad to break it in half.. but.. I didn’t want to reduce how much I wrote either 😉
Thanks for sharing your thoughts Julia! Great to hear from you 🙂 Oh yeah.. privacy is a dirty word at the agency I think.. There is a real lack of boundaries!
Hey Jenbo! Yeah.. Lee’s laugh is adorable! Hang in there.. won’t be long till ‘Perry Mason’ 🙂
Hiya BJo – rofl – glad to see you too found the idea that it was the soviet embassy amusing… that still cracks me up 🙂
Good point about this being a chance to privately clear things up between them.. I agree.. it is much better like this.. Lee and Amanda a united front,before going back to Billy and Francine with the evidence.. and then, the four of them – going to Larner!
Hi Debilyn, yes very true.. he has always told Amanda more than he should, but for me, I think he is telling her more now than he use to volunteer, and more about things that are emotionally involved….
I like Raffie‘s take!!! that makes sense to me Raffie, and how I see Lee at this point. I love how you’ve described that! [Lee does have white knight syndrome after all 😉 ]
Yes, I think he emotionally needs Amanda now in a way that he hasn’t needed her in the past. I was thinking when Morley (in comments to post 7) pointed out how sad and lost Lee was at watching Amanda leave the bullpen – Lee was left to deal with the problem alone, when he is now use to having Amanda with him to help him.. I agree with Raffie, that this is all very upsetting for him – and he just wishes he could talk to Amanda about it, and get some support – who else can Lee talk with about it or anything?? The lone wolf is no longer lone, except he is forced to be temporarily at the beginning of this episode!! [and he no longer likes it!!] 🙂
BTW – this is one reason I can happily put this episode after Car Wars and A relative situation.. for me there has been lots of development since Ship of Spies.. but disagree if you like it’s probably a matter of taste 🙂
Patty bones, your description of Lee is exactly what I meant when I said Lee was trying to be ‘professional’ you described it well.. “he realizes the following: innocent or not they still have to PROVE to the Agency that she IS innocent and now BOTH of them have to work together to do this. And Amanda has told him in no uncertain terms that she needs to be told the truth and this is the time for him to do it…” – that sounds professional to me.. 🙂 I agree with you.
I probably didn’t expand on my thoughts.. and left it open to interpretation.. Professional Lee is to me, Lee the pragmatist.. who knows there is still a job to do here – and he’s right! 🙂
Melissa R, I also agree with you – I think maybe my comment that ‘they were beyond that’ was not clear maybe- what I meant was – they are not beyond Lee asking the questions – that is a good, helpful thing to do to get to the bottom of the mess.. but it wasn’t necessary for him to put on the Perry Mason stern act with Amanda to get the information he needed..(anyway, we’ll pick up that idea straight away in the next post 🙂 )
Amanda isn’t some meatball he has to question – she will tell him anything he wants to know.. that is all I meant. I definitely agree with you, that it wasn’t wrong of Lee to ask and clear things up – and I hope that clears it up for me too LOL!
I actually happen to agree with both of Pattybones and Melissa R.. sorry if the way I expressed it was confusing 🙂 -and if I’ve misunderstood you at all please let me know 🙂 byeeeeee!
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Yes, IWSOD, love how you sneak in those little humorous things in your posts…they always make me chuckle so I have to keep it going! And nice touch with the “Amanda isn’t some meatball” Car Wars reference! Oh and I like the new picture thingy at the top from SAAB. I’m thinking you just changed that?
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Hi BJo… 🙂 sounds like we have a similar sense of humour! 🙂 haaa you picked up the meatball reference I love it! 🙂
Yes!!! I changed it late last night when I was half asleep.. LOL I wasn’t even sure if it had worked! It’s my first attempt at changing it. I have a few new ones which I might switch between – a very talented fellow smk fan made them – and I’ll do up a little post to credit her soon – LOL I’m not sure which name I should credit her under! handles get confusing huh! 😉
‘Yes’ says iwsod – my nom de plume!
Hi Debilyn!
It’s amazing!!! I find Lee’s overreaction here very endearing and cute!!! Tee heee.. this is new.. usually I get annoyed at him and champion for Amanda! 🙂 I get the feeling Amanda’s character sees it is unnecessary, but it’s also harmless.. and sorta cute 😉 I hope to get the second half done today – sorry it would be much easier to discuss it if the other half was there I know! sadly, university has to come first 😦 [ man do I have my priorities wrong or what?!]
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Re: the Perry Mason act – he does pour it on a little there, but I think it’s almost because he just HAS to have the answers, as Pattybones says, in order to get to the bottom of the trouble. He overreacts, as he sometimes does, because he has to shift from friend to partner in a hurry.
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Love his sheer joy at realising his faith in Amanda being unable to be a double agent just wonderful 🙂 Any excuse to enjoy seeing that smile 😉
Can’t wait until next post and Amanda’s quip about Lee being Perry Mason, love that line 🙂
Until I started reading this blog and the SMK forum I never really paid much attention to body language but I am really enjoying learning about it and watching it within the show.
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Lees grin is fantastic and Amanda’s will to defend herself is great. And I agree, it is great, that he admits to searching the house.
Privacy of your home seems a difficult thing when working for the agency.
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