Back to IFF..
Francine and Billy are as confused as ever.. The first thing we hear is Francine saying: that doesn’t make any sense.
Nice one!!! echoing Billy’s opening sentence from the last scene! Now it’s Francine’s turn to be confused!
Billy: We all keep saying that and we all know that it has to!
Francine goes back a year to look for a connection between Credle and Treloggen? purlease.. wouldn’t you go back to the beginning of their careers? 
Whoo Francine is pounding the desk? Look out Billy.. don’t make her too cross… Mancine might make an appearance!
Lee bursts into Billy’s office.. Sooo he came straight back to the agency after Karen tried to shoot him?? Rofl!! why didn’t Karen just follow him?? She could have found out where the agency was!! Oh boy.. Swiss Cheese this plot!
Lee: Billy! Amanda’s disappeared…
…Her bed’s been slept in… [Eh?? so Karen was there overnight??? And Lee thought Amanda hadn’t gone camping, so why is he shocked at that?? ugh..] … there are dishes in the sink but there’s no sign of her in the house.
At this, Billy and Francine wordlessly share a look.
–my goodness! I never noticed that before! Billy’s look is like: awh super protective Lee is worrying over nothing about Amanda!!
Billy (In a bless his little heart tone of voice!): of course there’s not sign of her in her house she’s in Shenandoah National Park. You were standing right there when she told us all about the camping trip.
Watch Francine here.. she looks over it..Francine can’t find the connection and Lee is missing Amanda? boo hoo
Lee: She didn’t go… [At this Billy’s indulgent smile fades.. uh oh! Sooo why is Lee freaked that her bed was slept in??]
…I talked to her on the phone, she was suppose to wait there for me to pick her up. Now, the house just doesn’t look right. There’s papers scattered all over the place…
[wimpy love letters from Dan! err Dean!] … a 
drink on the end table and the ash trays are full of cigarette butts.
At this Francine perks up!
Francine: ahhh.. a secret drinker and a 
secret smoker.. my my my my….
Francine’s havin some fun at this thought.
Lee looks like he is barely controlling his temper! 
Lee: would you just can it please.
No jokes when Amanda is in danger Francine- if you know what’s good for you! of course, Francine wouldn’t understand the gravity of dirty dishes in Amanda’s sink.. Francine looks at Lee shocked at his lack of humour.. Lee’s really serious!!!
Lee: I’m telling you something has happened to her. Now whoever rigged that shot gun could have eas-
Eh??!!!! Billy shoots up in his hot seat (Nice one KC!): What shot gun??!!!
Lee: there was a shot gun rigged to get me coming in through the front door. I 
have the lab checking it out right now…
Now I think someone 
must have been there telling Amanda what to say because she usually has me go through the back door.
Francine: Did you ever work with Credle or Treloggen?
[whoo wouldn’t that be a coincidence! It would narrow things down nicely! ]
Lee: Yeah I did. Seven years ago.
Billy: Gordon Redding!!!!
[Billy’s so excitable! Did Gordon cheat on his wife??!!! Love Billy!]
Lee isn’t shocked he seems to have figured this out already: You got it..
Billy: you were all on that one together!
Lee: until they made a run at me I didn’t make a connection either.
Francine: whoooo???? [ ha!! she’s out of the loop.. now you know how Amanda feels! Billy and Lee ignore her!]
Billy: He’s still serving time isn’t he?
Lee: damn well should be. He should have gotten life for espionage not 10- 20.
Francine keeps trying to get a word in haaa.. she throws up her hands in frustration.. what Francine? just listen to them for once!
Billy: with good behaviour he’ll be out in about I’m gonna check on this.
Lee: good!
Billy rushes off like a good employee to follow up on his bosses hunch.. oh wait a minute.. that’s not right
Francine: Exxccuuuuussee me, but would somebody mind telling me what’s going on?
[Hmm interesting.. Francine doesn’t know everything about Lee you think the writer’s were aiming to remind us of this?]
Well, before Lee fills in Francine- how funny is it that Lee starts in with Amanda’s missing! her sink is full of dirty dishes!!! rofl!!! Neglects to mention the rigged shotgun.. and the fact that he knows the same person who killed Credle and Treloggen is behind it – probably Gordon Redding who is now after him too!
It’s kinda sweet… I think he’s too busy thinking about Amanda being missing.. Awh… Her safety is front and centre!
Back to Francine who needs to have the plot explained to her [taking notes everyone?!]
Lee: this was before you signed on… Gordon Redding and his brother owned an 
electronics firm. Business was going pretty well till Gordon decided to expand.
yaddda yaaadda..
I’ll summarise! Gordon sold classified technological secrets for money. Got it?! 
Lee explains Gordon wants revenge because Lee killed Gordon’s brother.. He shot him when they 
got into a gun fight at Gordon’s arrest.
I do appreciate how Lee does not look like he 
enjoys admitting to having killed someone.. but.. he was doing his job.. bless him.. Francine also seems to acknowledge this is not the fun side of the spy biz..
Lee knows Gordon can take his time, and pay 
loads of money to get him killed because the money Gordon stole was never found.. [err except Gordon has run out of patience Lee- he wants you gone!]
Lee thinks 
he had the money put away in a swiss bank account [Gosh.. wouldn’t the authorities have followed Gordon the moment he got out of prison? and waited for him to access the cash???!!!!] oh well..
Billy’s back from running the errand! Gordon got out of prison after six years…
whooo cue the tough guy look from Lee!
uh oh.. there’s scum on the stree
ts!!! haaaa..
Gordon stopped checking with his parole officer a month ago..
Billy: I think this is where we keep you under wraps scarecrow.
Lee: ah now Billy!!! 
Billy: we’re going into overdrive around here.. [err hello what about Amanda??!!]
Lee takes a deep breath.. he’s stressing now more than ever..
Billy looks excited: we know he’s been hiding in the DC area running this little operation and we’re gonna find him! 
Yeah nice one.. but don’t be too thrilled Billy.
Lee’s very worried: Billy… I can take care of myself…
… it is Amanda that I am worried about. Where the hell is she???!!!
[I love the subtext in his choice of words.. Amanda needs Lee to look after her – from bad guys that is.. ]
Awhhhhhh I just want to give Lee a big hug.. I think hugging Lee would be a great way to stop from wandering and getting lost.. ahem..
Lee is so lovely here.. full of fear for Amanda – and not at all triumphant at having discovered who is behind everything.. and not angry about being shot at – his only concern is- Amanda
Swoony!!!!!!! Well that is soo very touching.. it sort of makes up for the fact that we are now 21 minutes into this episode and Lee and Amanda haven’t even seen each other (or technically spoken to each other!) – though lovely to remember- Amanda is very much on Lee’s mind awh!!
Sooo any thoughts?? Anyone else enjoy watching Francine scrambling to stay involved here?
I don’t doubt Billy cares for Amanda.. but his glee at having figured out the connection shows beautifully the different levels of care for Amanda here between Billy and Lee.. Lee knows Amanda a lot better than Billy and Francine – something isn’t right! Yep.. there is that theme again!!!! Think it’s deliberate?? I think so!! but feel free to disagree..
I also think it highlights beautifully that Lee cares much more about Amanda.. than he even does about himself.. or the agency.. or Gordon.. Me Like!
Calling Tie Patrol!!! (KC!) Is that the same shirt and tie combo Lee was wearing when Lee told Rita that he wouldn’t shoot a lady but he would shoot her?!!!
Sooooo what do you make of Francine’s outfit? I struggled to figure out what that weapon was that seems to be attached to her shoulder.. you never know when you might need to defend yourself..
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Back with more soon
"Just walk with me.." 
Sorry to be late to the party on this one – I am really enjoying this episode on the blog. Watching the ep on its own is ok, but I get what you mean iwsod when you say ‘watching’ it with others makes it so much richer! I’ve always loved Lee’s concern for Amanda and that he knows immediately that something is wrong at Amanda’s house, but have never really stopped to think about it very much until now. Lee really does know Amanda well! And you are so right, iwsod when you say that the gravity of a sink full of dirty dishes would be so lost on Francine!!
I almost wish that there were small scenes once or twice a season where we saw Billy and Francine or Francine and Mrs. Marsden discussing their take on Lee and Amanda’s relationship – what they notice, what they hear, etc. That would be too funny! They’re supposed to be highly trained spies – c’mon, they should notice something, don’t ya think???
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“I can take care of my self, Billy it’s Amanda that I’m worried about!” ~ definitely swoon worthy. I like the idea that she is on his mind when he’s not with her 🙂
Nice that Billy listens to her rambles and knows exactly where she’s at!
Francine’s fashion pin…Haha…maybe that’s where she has her cyanide pill, an agent is suppose to be prepared for anything.
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Tie Patrol reporting in, as requested, from deep inside the rabbit hole… yes, it is indeed the same tie, shirt, pocket hankie, and jacket that Lee was wearing when he told Rita that he wouldn’t shoot a lady but he would shoot her. (Nice catch, Iwsod!) Billy, OTOH, is not wearing the same as he did in ALSALS.
Yes, it does seem slack of Francine to only go back one year… Swiss cheese, as you say.
Billy is so adorable… getting so super excited at the idea of catching Redding. 🙂
Yes, it is very sweet–and very telling–that Lee is so concerned with Amanda’s welfare… awhhhhhhhh… And yes, nice that Billy also cares… 🙂 But it is obvious that Lee’s level of knowledge and caring is deeper and more intimate. Just wait, Amanda–super spy hunk is falling for you!
LOL at the “weapon” on Francine’s shoulder… it looks to me like the Star Trek (original series) clothing logo doohickie! 😀
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Cindy which Filming Raul Ramble is that? 😉 interesting you should say that because something about the next part reminded me of that ep too!
Cindy, Valerie, Morley and KC, see now this is why I love blogging about smk so much.. when I experience it with you – the experience is much richer!!! You’ve all put it so beautifully.. So glad you are walking with me on this journey!!!!
Anyone else out there thinking of joining in?? Go for it.. there’s plenty of room for you on this path we are walking! 🙂
Lee’s worry here for Amanda is extremely significant and very swoony!!
Very true that the distance between them so far actually says a lot – Amanda is never far from Lee’s thoughts 🙂 here here KC.. he is absolutely falling for her 🙂
I agree Cindy, I don’t necessarily enjoy them being apart.. and I note that it is weird.. but.. there such a great pay off – I can’t mind too much.. and as you remind us – it is good to mix things up occasionally – very good point!
Ah Valerie.. I love the way you’ve described what’s happening with Lee in this scene.. you put a great big smile on my face – literally!!
Here here!!! Such sweetness – it’s very swoony!!
LOL Morley and KC! I did a meme of Francine’s brooch over on Neds.. Check it out! I had the giggles something bad… Absolutely it looks like a Ninja star!!!! rofl KC.. a logo doohickie! yes is that the technical term? 🙂 maybe I should post it here.. ?
Thanks tie patrol!!! I was thinking it was a different jacket – slightly darker..but I’ll go with your view!
I wondered if they maybe crossed over the filming of that episode with this episode.. just briefly and thus Lee kept the same clothes and just changed Jacket.. but whatever I’m just glad that flat hair from ALSALS is not on view in this episode.. me like Lee’s hair to move! 🙂
This episode is worth hanging in there with – some may think smk is better viewed superficially.. then all the plot holes and errors don’t matter.. but my view is that the show can withstand the scrutiny just fine.. I might (and others might) find plot holes.. but most of the time there is more than enough other great things about the episode that it doesn’t matter.. and sometimes the plot holes aren’t plot holes.. it’s sometimes a situation like this ep – where it looks like they rewrote things along the way for whatever reason.. but I see the original script and it suddenly all makes a lot more sense! [Okay.. I admit it the plastic surgery will never make sense!]
I hope when I question plot holes it is clear I am thinking through the plot.. because sometimes there are explanations for things.. and this is how my scary mind works!
but regardless of plot holes- I love the show and think the show can be understood and enjoyed on a much deeper level 🙂
Just sayin!! This is what fans do.. we tell smk what to do, and then well them if they did it right 😉
Right?? 😆
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“Thanks tie patrol!!! I was thinking it was a different jacket – slightly darker..but I’ll go with your view!
I wondered if they maybe crossed over the filming of that episode with this episode..”
*Stands at attention, snapping an SMK salute* (whatever that might be)… You’re very welcome!
The lighting of different scenes messes with the colours at times (it’s driven me a little batty with some of the is-this-tie-the-same-as-that-tie questions) but I’m confident it is the same jacket and it’s definitely the same shirt and tie.
BTW I’ve found a few of Lee’s tie crossovers that I can start to go into in Tie Patrol posts that I think might show which scenes were filmed consecutively… 🙂
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Oh, and yes–clothing logo doohickie (doohickey) *is* the technical term, at least in my vocabulary, which also contains other gems like widget, wotsit, thingie, and bit-that-goes-over-there. *I* know what I mean, and I don’t need to be technical in my off-hours! 😀
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Absolutely the light can make a big difference 🙂 but nothing gets by officer KC! 🙂
Tie crossovers sounds good.. Hmm if you keep an eye out during this second part of season 2 it might help with episode order.. So far I’m thinking it’s the same as production order from now to the end of the season..
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I was thinking the ramble when Amanda was talking about her car being side swiped and ending up with the nugget that Scotty had been filming the IFF cohorts in the magically appearing carpark for months.
I don’t mind the plot holes in SMK because in the first few seasons, it didn’t take itself super seriously (and the chemistry between KJ and BB and the slow story arc of their relationship elevated the show beyond the individual episodes). When Amanda got amnesia, it was believable within the constraints of SMK-land. When Remington got amnesia (since the show was more ‘realistic’), not-so-much.
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Hi Cindy.. wow.. I didn’t know that about RS.. we should start a thread on Neds so we can discuss it in more detail!
Very true what you say about smk not taking itself super seriously!!! They also managed to bring deeper meaning to things while doing this… I didn’t appreciate how difficult that must be when I was younger..
I found an article the other day where BB mentions that the Network had decided smk should become a more serious show – it is a shame as it’s what made smk unique that blend..
Oopsie I better take this over to Nedlindger’s also.. but just thought I’d say I agree with you Cindy! 🙂
byeeee!
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That thing that Francine is wearing on her shoulder looks like some jewelry from Star Trek. Or maybe it is a some kind of throwing star that a ninja would use?
I do love the contrast between Lee’s caring and where Billy’s thoughts about the case are. Lee doesn’t even try to muster that old agent blank look that he used so often in season 1. He is concerned, worried, scared and it is oozing out of him, for all to see.
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I’m with you iwsod and with Cindy and Jestress too. Love how Lee is so concerned about Amanda and the shotgun just becomes an afterthought. I also like how he shuts Francine down (with more to come). She looks as if she doesn’t know what to make of Lee telling her to can it. He usually just lets Francine have her say and moves on, but he finally says something to her. What’s so nice is that Lee doesn’t seem to care that everyone else knows how worried he is. It’s like he is not really thinking straight. He is just reacting and probably won’t think straight until he can find Amanda and make sure she’s okay. So loving this scene, starting to wear his heart on his sleeve.
Also, even though he hasn’t spent a whole lot of time inside the house, he knows what it’s supposed to look like because he knows Amanda. The whole house just doesn’t look right comes up again I think. Will comment more on it then. Such sweetness and another swoon alert!! So much goodness and Amanda and Lee have yet to share the screen. Shows just how strong their chemistry is.
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I love how Lee started an Amandaramble and neglected to tell Billy and Francine about the shotgun until after telling them about her bed being slept in (I wonder how Amanda will feel about Lee being in her bedroom LOL), and the dirty dishes. For some reason I am reminded of her ramble in Filming Raoul.
I think it’s fantastic that Billy does care about Amanda and pays attention to what she says (he even knew where Amanda was camping, Awwww!)
21 minutes and they haven’t seen each other yet? I don’t mind it (as long as tptb don’t make a habit of it!)), I enjoy when shows break their usual formula.
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I love how Lee storms into the office and starts going on about how Amanda is missing and her house just doesn’t look right, and then, almost as an afterthought, mentions that someone tried to kill him with a clumsy booby-trap. He’s very single-minded, although I think his heart is in the right place. 😉
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Ha – great minds think alike!
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lol! Yeah, this is one of the moments that I really like in this episode. I figure it’s probably a favorite moment for a lot of people.
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