We last left Amanda bravely walking into great 
danger, leaving her hiding place and approaching the angry mafia guy with a knife!! eek!! Amanda’s manages to casually approach the men.
Paulie notices her first..
Paulie: Hey, Mr Columbus.
[Paulie draws Frankie’s attention to the arrival of Amanda. LOL so Paulie isn’t allowed to call him Frankie?! ]
Frankie: Hey!! Who the hell are you?
Amanda: Uh, Amanda King, sir.
Frankie: What are you doing here? [what a funny question! I mean he doesn’t even know who Amanda King is! 
]
As Frankie says this line, we see Lee and Billy react to Amanda’s sudden appearance!
Their immediate spit second reactions are pretty funny! Billy has a tiny smile.. Lee just looks confused! [Think he might be questioning whether he is hallucinating about Amanda because he is about to die??!!!]
Billy covers it quickly.. [yes it is very hard to make out his expressions] but Lee is so shocked he doesn’t hide it quite so well – Good thing the baddies don’t look to gauge their immediate reactions!
I think Lee looks worried and concerned for Amanda.. that she has put herself in danger.. what do you think? Maybe something else makes better sense than that..
Lee turns to give Billy a look – what the heck??!!
And Lee turns again back to Amanda- this time even more confused/concerned/ actually maybe he’s conflicted.. he could also be really happy to see her – but she’s just put herself in danger!!! argh!!! Thoughts?? He could also be wondering just what she is going to say!
But.. Amanda has a plan!!! A cunning plan!!! A plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel! [Yes another Black Adder reference! If you haven’t seen it-fix that! ]
Amanda: Well, sir, I was supposed to pick up some papers at the, uh, party tonight.
Tonight?? It seemed like daytime to me! Not even remotely evening! Huh???
Sooo where are the papers then? ‘suppose to?’ and what is she even doing here?? This cover doesn’t really make sense.. not that I care – she’s still brave and wonderful! but the script explained this much better.. [Frankie tells her to drop the papers off and go] – but here we see no papers.. and it is not explained. I guess they didn’t think we’d care or notice.. I don’t care.. but I did notice 
Ha!
Paulie: That’s right, Mr Columbus.
[Who would have guessed we’d be happy to have Paulie vouch for Amanda! ]
Frankie turns to look behind him at Paulie..
Amanda: Yes, sir, Mr Columbus.
Frankie sizes Amanda up..: How long you been working for me?
Amanda: I just started, Mr Columbus.
Frankie is suddenly all smiles and charm: Hey! Call me Frankie!
[I think he sees her matchy matchy earrings and thinks she can’t 
possibly be a threat I love Frankie’s delivery here! ]
Amanda: Frankie, thank you.
Frankie: I like you.
Amanda: Well, thank you, sir.
Frankie: Listen…ahhh…
[he looks sideways at his captives..]
…Forget what you see here.
We see Amanda turns and looks at Lee and Billy.. then we are given a view of what Amanda sees!
Lee still concerned and utterly confused!
Amanda: I don’t see anything, sir.
Frankie gives Amanda a big smile : I like you. [Haa! Sucker!!!]
He gives Amanda an affectionate pat on the cheek.. good girl! err… no she isn’t!
Amanda: Thank you, sir.
Ha haaaa!!! Amanda the smiling assassin! Frankie turns around to face Paulie again, and Whack! Amanda takes the opportunity to hit Frankie with a tub/container of some kind! go Amanda!!
[LOL! It looks like Frankie reacts before Amanda whacks him!]
Frankie is sent flying right into Paulie.. What Luck!
Wait a minute- hear that music?? I am no music expert.. but I think that’s a few bars of Beethoven’s Symphony No.5 in C Minor, Op 67 [it’s really famous- or I wouldn’t know it!] Very cool!! It’s very ominous.. and I love it because it seems to signal not just the beginning of the action, but also the appearance of (eek!) Amanda’s stunt double!! Yes Stunt Amanda was needed to push the trolley under Lee and Billy’s feet so they could get off the meat hooks and join the action! Okay, it was probably just a little second unit filming to save time..
I’m guessing that is not Billy and not Lee either! I am sure they would have minimised the dangling as much as possible.. and all those closer shots the guys were actually standing on something. It still looks really uncomfortable though!
So Lee kicks Paulie out of the way so Paulie can’t stop Amanda from bring over the trolley- teamwork! 
Ouchie! that actually looks painful doing a kick while dangling! Okay, that did require stunt work!
Here’s stunt Amanda! With matchy matchy earrings!
Francine charges into the action as Lee and Billy get themselves unhooked..
Oh boy.. there’s lots of stunt Lee here.. Free from the meat hook but hands still bound, Lee (and stunt Lee) fight Paulie.. No not two against one.. they do take it in turns..
Meanwhile Amanda finds the sharp knife, and pulls it out of the side of beef to untie Billy’s bindings.. Go Amanda! 
I don’t know how she does it but KJ manages to make this look funny!!! Is it just me??!!
Like argh!! this is a big, sharp knife! Maybe it’s the way she looks at it when she’s finished- uh oh!! this is no bendy knife!
And that face she pulls?? KJ is genius!! well done KJ!
Teee hee!! and btw it’s completely unscripted.. The script had Francine untying Billy!
Billy goes after Rostov err I mean Frankie… argh!!!
Be afraid Amanda!!!! Francine has done her incredible Hulk impression!!!! You know- where you suddenly get really ‘beefy’ (Ha!) and.. 
suddenly morphs into a man???!!!
Francine’s man version, ‘Mancine!’ fights the chauffeur! Time for some of that hand to hand combat..she’s expert at- and a man aged between 30 and 40 (but alas he’s probably not wealthy Francine!)
Ohh there’s so much wrong with this fight sequence I can’t even bother.. and really – who cares?? When Francine has morphed into Mancine?? this is brilliant!!
Mancine takes out the chauffeur.. Billy takes out Frankie.
Love Billy’s ways to catch bad guys – no wonder he loves Amanda.. she takes after him in the how to fight bad guys department I think- none of these length fight sequences for them
Okay, now it looks like a bendy knife! … Lee deals with Paulie.. [whoo hoooo.. has that gaping tear in his shirt gotten bigger?? oh and LOL at the very fake looking meat hanging in this shot! ]
Okay I can’t resist.. it was begging for it!
Yes… the SMKMemes project is up and running!!! Join in the fun!!! Follow the link for how to join in- it’s easy! [You’ll need to email me for instructions then you can go for it]
On with the show! Everything is soo nicely wrapped up with a bow..
Only, they’ve overlooked someone!
Lee pushes his meaty Paulie product over to Billy…
Billy: Good work, Scarecrow. [Guess Frankie is wondering who scarecrow is! ]
Oh the irony! at this.. Vic with his gun trained on everyone steps into view.
Vic: Nicely done …Now. Don’t anybody move.
Vic Burling pulls a gun on them all???!!!
Rat! Creep!! PAL!!!!!!!!!!
They can’t believe it!!
Everyone is doing a statue impression! Except Amanda! who suddenly appears from behind Vic shoving a big side of beef into him and 
sending his sprawling onto the floor.. dropping his gun! Hooray for Amanda!!! (and from that moment on.. Lee’s favourite was Beef Wellington!! 😆 ) Lee points out where the gun is and Francine picks it up.
Don’t you just love how now that he’s been captured Frankie suddenly just obediently stands next to Billy like a puppy dog?!
I love seeing Vic laid out on the floor-very satisfying!! haaaa and after the way he and his brother blackmailed Amanda- I’m really glad it was her that got to send him face first onto the ground!
Francine passes the gun to Lee, who then passes it on to Billy.
I love love love that not only did the two women save all the men, but we also got a moment of Amanda saving Francine!! this just can’t get any better!!!!
Francine immediately addresses Amanda
Francine: Amanda. Terrific!
So funny how Amanda is a little bashful here.. she looks down at Vic and gives his foot a little kick! rofl!!! [Again- not scripted!]
How can it be funny to see Amanda kick an unconscious baddie?? well.. it is!!! haaa!!!
Francine takes Amanda’s hand and shakes it enthusiastically as Amanda responds: Well, I guess together we’re a pretty good one-two punch.
Okay, where have I heard that before?? One-two punch.. did Amanda say something about Lee and his uncle being a great one two punch?? did she say it any other time?? anyone?
It’s really sweet how we can see Lee in the background watching this moment of acceptance and acknowledgement from Francine towards Amanda – and he’s really happy for her to finally have Francine give her kudos!
One thing I will say for Francine: where there is praise to be given here – she doesn’t hold back!!! whooo hooo!
A little moment of Bravery for Francine too here maybe?? Finally acknowledging that Amanda has made a contribution!
Billy: Come on, Francine. Let’s get these turkeys in the van and downtown. [Turkeys?? wrong kind of meat Billy! ]
Billy: Great job, Amanda.
Billy and Francine leave taking the turkeys to the turkey van Leaving Lee and Amanda alone to deal with unconscious Vic..
Ohh this parting moment was just begging for someone to tell the baddies ‘The Party’s over!!! ‘
Did I say things couldn’t get any better?? well.. I was wrong .. things are about to get even better!!!!!!!! But.. at 1700 words.. I better stop there.. [I aim for 1200 max!] Yep.. I’m stopping right before another critically important moment..Sorry! I don’t want to rush it!! So stay tuned for a discussion of what’s next!!!
How did you enjoy this fight sequence?? I found Paulie’s bad wig especially entertaining.. and Mancine?? A delightful addition to the cast 😉 I wish we saw more of him
Well I’ll be back with the final post on this ep soon! This is a much better episode than I remembered!!! Anyone else pleasantly surprised? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the episode and my comments- if you’d like to share them! byeeee!!
"Just walk with me.." 
#2019rewatch
To my mind KJ’s thinking, “That’s for Sally.”
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#2019rewatch
SO. MANY. STUNT DOUBLES!!! Even the meat had stunt doubles stand in!!!!! 😂
Rostov really needed to take some intimidation lessons from Frankie.
And Vic! You are such a sneaky stinker!
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Iwsod, I am rolling!!!!! This post is priceless!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
There is one other hilarious little moment you didn’t get with a screencap, but that cracks me up everytime I watch the episode: right after Amanda knocks Vic forward (roast a la Vic Burling), Francine like kinda karate chops him on the back. And it’s definitely Francine, not Mancine, and it is so not convincingly painful whatsoever, but is supposed to be the final blow that knocks him out cold. It’s hilarious!!!
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This is kind of random, but this episode reminds me of the strange fascination American culture has with mobsters – although “Frankie” is clearly the bad guy here, he has that kind of stereotypical Goodfella vibe. Our culture tends to romanticize mobsters to some extent, even glorify them occasionally. I well remember an episode of “Lou Grant” where this issue was raised – the reporters were making the usual “godfather” jokes until Lou pointed out that the mob is a ruthless organization that murders and tortures and ruins people’s lives and there really isn’t anything remotely “romantic” about it. It was a powerful monologue; I wish I could find it online.
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I love Amanda’s bravery here. She really has an unfailing belief in Lee to do what he needs to do to save everyone when they are in a jam. I think Lee doesn’t quite know what to make of Amanda’s arrival. Surely he thinks that Francine is also there – would Amanda come by herself? I think he’s just trying to figure out what her plan is and looking a little worried that he won’t figure it out?? He looked relieved to see her in TFT with that little look on his face, but here he never shows us that look.
Mancine?? Love it! ROFL!! Wonder what size his skirt is and how much he weighs?
Nice meme!
I know why Vic stuck around, but duh, why did’t he just leave and take off after he was free? ?? Not very smart, Vic.
Ah, the Francine /Amanda handshake. I think Amanda has really surprised Francine here, don’t you think? This is perhaps the surprise Francine was talking about earlier? Oh wait, how could she have known?? Yes, at least she doesn’t hold back the praise – I don’t think she can help it. I just wish she wasn’t so quick to forget it.
Iwsod, I don’t remember Amanda using the one-two punch line any other time besides ARS with Uncle Bob and Lee. We’ll have to keep an ear out for it now.
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Oh so glad I’ve gotten back in time to join the “party”. I’ve been waiting for this scene and especially the next. Lee’s look to me almost looks like he wants to killer her himself for putting herself in danger. But, then he seems to be proud of her too!!! Which he should be 🙂
Mancine…hahaha…I love it!!!! Wow…she is full of praise to Amanda…but does she easily forgets Amanda’s worth by like the next episode?
Can’t wait until the next part 🙂
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Yep, Mancine sure has some pretty beefy arms, doesn’t s/he?
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That Vic Burling is some piece of work. He seeks out Lee for help and then this is how he repays his kindness. I need to get out of mob mode.
I love when Amanda puts on a brave front even when she is probably terrified. She stayed cool in Brunettes when the baddie (whose name escapes me at the moment) was stroking her cheek and telling her how they were going to be together first before she would be sold. She also stayed cool in Three Faces of Emily when she was being treated practically the same way in the pool room. And those events had to be just plain disturbing physically and emotionally. Makes you just shudder for her. At least Frankie is playing at being nice. Still pretty frightening and Amanda is just grace under pressure.
Billy and Lee have pretty much just been “hanging around” the whole episode with not a lot to do and Amanda and Francine have doing all the work. It’s nice that they get to finish it out without the guys having to rush in and do the “clean up” so to speak. Love Lee’s reactions throughout all of this, especially when he’s watching Francine congratulate Amanda. Love how Francine isn’t even focused on Lee as she is handing him the gun. She is looking at Amanda.
The payoffs of this episode outweigh this bad fight scene with the stunts and somewhat silliness of the action. These are the parts where I get distracted and focus on something else, like what’s coming next.
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I love what comes next! It makes watching Mancine kick that baddie like a little kid completely worth it.
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Yes Mancine does appear to be errr not very flexible! 😉
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Hmmmm… I think Lee’s worried look is more, as you said, conflicted. He’s seen Amanda come up with the out-of-left-field save enough times before to know that she’s probably got something really good planned (or semi-unplanned as Amanda’s saves usually are), but he still worries about her safety–the white knight wants to save her, not be saved by her.
LOL re: the second unit filming… Billy did suddenly very tall, didn’t he?!?!? 😀
Amanda looking at the knife is funny. (Yep–KJ, as always, is absolutely brilliant.) I think that she’s thinking: dayyymn… that knife made really short work of those bindings–I really need one of these puppies in my kitchen!!! (Seriously–she slices through the bindings so quickly, it’s a wonder Billy still had his hands attached to his wrists! Then again, Lee manages to make such short work of his bindings with the stationary jigsaw, that they’re probably just blue painter’s masking tape–LOL!)
Sweet! Another Mancine sighting! (Mancine does have some dainty ankles, despite the otherwise gorilla-ish figure/posture.) And yeah–Billy’s probably like a proud papa with the way Amanda goes with the unconventional saves…
Ah–the magical meat behind Vic. One minute there’s a whole swag of beef sides lined up, next minute there’s just the one nice smooth slab, then next minute the whole row again… magical mystery meat. I bet that’s what they use for sausages! 😀
Again, Amanda shows just how sweet and self-effacing she is–“together we’re a pretty good one-two punch”. Sounding embarrassed by the praise and at the same time giving Francine the credit, too. 🙂
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It’s a good thing she doesn’t have one of those knives!! If she did, Dotty would probably have at least one less finger!!!
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Mancine – genius IWSOD, pure genius!!
But I am GUTTED you stopped……nooooooo I wanted to carry on *stamps foot*
Its lovely to see Francine so generous in her praise, shows her in a good light for once. I wish they had done it more often.
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Yes, I read this post while still waking up and that picture and “Mancine” had me laughing as well. My kids were wondering what I was finding so funny first thing in the morning. Thanks for the great morning!
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LOVED, LOVED, LOVED the picture and caption “nobody treats Lee like a piece of meat and gets away with it” Oh my gosh! I laughed out loud on that one! Thanks for the amusing post IWSOD!
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Hello Christy!!! Lovely to hear from you!! thanks for your encouragement – I’m really thrilled that you enjoyed it!
Ha Morley your comments had me laughing out loud!!!! 🙂 thanks for sharing!! Glad you enjoyed the post! Hang in there!! Next post is coming soon! 🙂
Valerie you are so right – Vic is simply awful.. he had a chance to turn his life around and he blew it.. self serving little weasel- Amanda showed him!! 🙂
Hi KC – oh yeah!! magic meat galore!! 🙂 some of it looking very fake and.. icky!
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