Fiiiiiiinally Lee, Amanda, Francine and Billy arrive at the special diplomatic mansion! It’s a lovely property.. I wonder if it is a private residence and they are just using the exterior.. but gorgeous grounds! 
Hey!!! What no black jumpsuits?? but come on!! you’ve been practicing wearing them!! Now’s your big moment guys!! 😆 Billy (holding a machine gun), Francine and Amanda are crouched in the garden, watching the mansion.
Francine: Tucker has activated the security system.
Inside Walters gives an update.
Walters: Alright, the TV equipment will be here in half an hour. 
Tucker: Great. We sealed up tight?
Walters: We’re sittin pretty! [yeah pretty ugly!]
Tucker: Comforting knowing we’ve got such nice security!
[Well, almost!!! 
muahahaha]
Walters and Tucker share a laugh at how clever they are-again! They remind me of another horrible histories skit.. okay okay.. watch it if you are interested.. but you can skip it if horrible histories is not your thing- and my comments will still make sense!
Okay! Back to smk!!! Focus iwsod!!! you can do it!! No distracting Black Jumpsuits!!
In the grounds of the mansion, Lee runs, gun out, across the grassy lawn towards Billy, Francine and Amanda.
He jumps a small fence and joins them.
[Oh boy.. this one is crying out for a swoony action man meme.. anyone want to go for it? 🙂 😆 is this part of Lee’s contractually obligated action finale? If he had tripped he could have shot and killed someone!]
Billy: What’s going down in there?
Lee: We’ve got a hostage situation here. They want TV 
cameras to broadcast their terms. There’s a terrorist upstairs and two downstairs with Nabuti and a couple of men keeping watch outside. [oh? that’s five men.. err I thought there was four?! ha! Maybe Lee is counting Augie as a terrorist! ]
Billy: We can stall them on the TV equipment. Can we get that override now Amanda?
Amanda: Yes sir. Okay there’s a red button and a black button. I’ll 
push the black button, then the red button, and you’ll have sixty seconds. That will deactivate the system. Okay? [I really hope Amanda isn’t just saying red and black because she is distracted by Francine’s outfit. Horrendous!]
Everyone checks their watches.
Lee: yeah. [whoo hoo! Lee has black socks. Kudos to wardrobe for getting him out of those yuck white ones!]
This back up security override is ooh so complicated! Not! No wonder Amanda couldn’t explain that in Billy’s office! Hmm maybe Amanda was talking it up to stay ‘very close’ to Lee? Actually when you think about it, Amanda is doing a brilliant job here for Jordan Securities! She really is working hard to protect Nabuti! 
I think Jordan securities should give her a promotion.. she could take over Byron’s job.. oh wait.. no something isn’t right here.. ahem.. sorry I’m subtracted distracted again
Amanda: Red Button. Go.
Billy: let’s do it.
Lee in a hurry: good luck everyone!!
[My my.. I do believe Mr ‘I work alone’ is actually enjoying being part of a team ]
Lee, Billy and Francine take off in a hurry leaving Amanda with a timer. Holding the red button down.
Back in the mansion.. we see Tucker leaves Walters to guard the guests while Tucker heads outside.
Outside, Lee is seen exiting the basketball court stealthily. Random! haaa.. 
Watched by Amanda, he runs toward the mansion,
gets 
to the side, and jumps up to the patio as Colby arrives behind him with a machine gun. Colby fires, but misses,
[hey most baddies do when shooting Lee- Lee’s gifted like that ]
Lee takes cover behind the patio wall. I 
find the editing quite confusing here.. but basically we 
see Amanda move away from her spot in the garden towards where Lee is. Tucker is now also in the garden and runs in the middle of the lawn right behind Amanda.. we don’t see him catch her..
Colby is shot by Trekkie Francine with a ray 
gun no no.. a tranquilizer dart… as he tried to climb the patio wall. 
Why does Francine get a Tranquiliser gun?? How come Lee doesn’t have to use one? He gets a real gun! [Budget cuts maybe?!]
Colby slumps to the ground.
Lee, no longer needing cover
– 
uses the rope to climb up the wall of the mansion to get in.
Then.. we see Francine run.. somewhere!
In the mansion- Upstairs, Isley is surprised in the hallway by Billy- who grabs him from behind, a hand over Isley’s mouth.
Billy has Isley in a tight grip around his neck. Isley slumps to the ground unconscious.
[It looks as fake as it did when Lee did it during the drill but.. physical combat? Go Billy! I guess we can call that Billy’s tranquiliser arm! ]
Downstairs Walters yells at the guests to be quiet.
Lee, gun drawn is also searching the mansion upstairs.
[I am crazy about this screen cap right now!! soooo swoony!!! I ended up making a meme from this image and I posted it at Neds.. hope you like it!! ]
Lee looks down over the balcony and can see all the guests being held at gunpoint by Walters. 
Suddenly he hears Tucker: Welcome to the party Stetson. Did you lose something?
We see Tucker is holding Amanda Hostage.
[whoa! what a cool line this is of Tucker’s!!! It has more than one meaning! Yes.. Amanda has been taken hostage- but the episode is also about how Lee lost Amanda as his partner, to Jordan securities!!! 
So cool!!! Yes Lee has lost Amanda! and he plans on getting her back!]
He points a gun at Lee: Drop the gun.
Lee looks at his gun, and then reluctantly throws it to the side.
Lee: Tucker why don’t we leave her out of this okay?
Whooo here comes Amanda’s Knight in Shining Armour! No really! There he is standing in front of the window!
Tucker with Amanda move further down the hall standing next to the ornamental knight in shining armour. Lee moves closer and joins them in front of the armour also.
Tucker: Ohhh but I invited her!
Man… this is just wrong.. it feels like domestic violence or something.. it’s way too weird!!!!
BTW- Kudos to whoever it was at Yuku who pointed out that Lee and Amanda are talking with their eyes here! It was years ago when I was last discussing this episode – I didn’t see it – but I see it now, I think Amanda signals with her eyes that she is going to use the knight to Lee- what do you think?
Sorry I won’t go look to Yuku to see who it was as I don’t want to read anyone’s thoughts on this episode while I’m blogging it- but if it was you- thank you!
Amanda surprises Tucker, using the Knight’s weapon to whack Tucker on the arm, the gun no longer aiming at 
Lee. Lee makes his move.
They fight while Amanda watches on. 
You know, in a way Amanda is her own white knight here- I love that she doesn’t just switch off and wait for Lee to rescue her! 🙂
It is clear to the guests and Walters a scuffle is taking place upstairs.
I’ll finish up here for the moment…in the middle of Lee and Tucker fighting and we’ll close up this episode in the next post! Love to hear from ya!!! byeeee!
"Just walk with me.." 
Funny, I thought the technically savvy override system with the super technical red and black buttons looked more like the automatic sprinkler shutoff…LOL 😉
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OMH, that is so funny, but true.
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Sorry — must be allowed a minute to rant about the plot holes. I can’t quite grasp why the big deal about deactivating the security system, when they are seen going in anyway. And why-oh-ever-why is Tucker OUTSIDE after he changes the access code? If you have a top-notch security system, wouldn’t it make sense to stay inside and wait for it to warn you if someone is coming, rather than wander around outside and set it off yourself?!!
Ok, I feel lots better. And may I mention that I love the upcoming fight scene, and the lighthearted way it’s resolved!
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breathe happy camper!!! we are here with you!!! We understand!! Ahhh.. feels good to get it out huh! 😉 rant away! You have raised even more crazy plot craters.. my goodness this episode is full of them! I’m looking forward to seeing if the plot holes grow smaller in season 3!
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I frequently get told off by my husband for “spoiling the magic” when pointing out plot holes LOL. I just look at it as paying attention 😉
Argh Francine has been taking notes about ear buttons, when Amanda mentions the red button I thought she was gonna go for Francine’s ear lobes 😉
I agree kiwismh who sticks a suit of armour infront of the window?!!! I am really curious as to the frilly apron, never seen one like it on a suit before…..
It’s fabulous that Amanda is prepared to take a risk and help Lee help her. Damsels in distress? I think not 😉
Ah IWSOD two great things. Horrible Histories and my fave period in history, The Tudors 🙂 I’m so baaaaad LOL
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rofl!!! spoiling the magic!!! haaaa I’ll have to use that one in future when I fear I’m focusing too much on plot craters – Am I spoiling the Magic?! Time to move on! 🙂 tee heee..
Yeah I don’t see why I should have to switch my brain off to enjoy a tv show!
haaaa you must have the same sense of you humour as me.. Time out! time out! Look at the state of her!! His accent absolutely cracks me up! I’m sure glad I didn’t have to live in tudor times!
Now there is an interesting project.. SMK in the Tudor Times! haaa!
Hear Hear Morley!!! I’m loving all this eye talk discussion too! hey are such a good team huh!
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Count me as one who doesn’t pay a lot of attention to plot holes/craters/dips/canyons. I’ve always felt that part of SMK’s charm was the fact that it didn’t always make sense and sometimes laughed at itself. There were a few shows in the 80’s that had that kind of appeal – they didn’t take themselves seriously. That said, the relationship was what drew me in, and does with others shows, too. The relationship between the main characters, the “family” of characters – that’s what draws me in and keeps me watching. Lee and Amanda are, by far, the best relationship couple I’ve ever had the pleasure of watching. I’m so glad we have it on DVD to share with others. 🙂
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I’m with you debilyn – Lee and Amanda’s story is by far the best I’ve had the pleasure to watch too! I’ve recently discovered Doc Martin (a British show) and I also love Martin and Louisa’s story, but it hasn’t caught my heart quite as much as Lee and Amanda. Plus, Doc Martin isn’t hunky IMHO. If anyone else out there is a Doc Martin fan, I’d be happy to discuss it over at Ned’s.
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I LOVE Doc Martin. Definitely not a hunk – or even likable – but his grudging love for Louisa and service to Port Wenn are endearing.
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Like Debilyn!! 😎
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I never thought I’d say this, but I’m very tired and on SMK overload. I can’t think of a single thing to write in response to this post. Except I love Lee. I love Amanda. I love Billy. I even sort of love Francine – just not in this episode. Not until she returns the outfit she stole from the Star Trek set. And I don’t even mind that notJoe plays JoeJoe in the future. I’m good at compartmentalizing like Lee. 😉 And why didn’t Amanda just learn to use a tranq gun instead of a real one in the future? I guess we can debate that when we get there. But yay for me, I’m caught up!
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OH Yeah!!!!! hey that’s really good BJo! why did Amanda have to have all the upcoming angst of shooting someone when she could have just borrowed Francine’s tranquiliser gun?! haaaa I love it!!
So glad you’ve caught up!!
Rest assured, I won’t be keeping up this pace! From the end of Feb, I need to accept that I will need to spend less time on SMK 😦 .. maybe reply to comments less.. publish posts a little less frequently – but I will absolutely definitely continue on this walk – I am loving it!!! Squeeeeeeeeeee!
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I am worried because we will be going on vacation (and have limited internet time) in June for 3 weeks. How am I ever going to catch up? How will I get my SMK fix?
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Wow. When Lee catapaults over the wall, avoiding the baddie bullets, he’s really lucky it’s grass he lands on and not a concrete/tile patio!!!
“Tucker is now also in the garden and runs in the middle of the lawn right behind Amanda.. we don’t see him catch her..”
‘Cos it’s Stunt/Double Amanda he’s chasing, who runs suspiciously like Stunt/Double Francine. :p
“Lee looks at his gun, and then reluctantly throws it to the side.”
Shouldn’t he have engaged the safety before he threw it? Ah, what would I know?
“I think Amanda signals with her eyes that she is going to use the knight to Lee”
I’m surprised anyone caught that–I was too distracted by the frilly apron the suit of armour is wearing… 😀
But yes–the silent communication is awesome. 🙂 They are so totally attuned to one another.
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apron? LOL! I didn’t notice!! you know.. that is definitely my idea of a knight in shining armour – someone who does the cleaning! 🙂
Safety on the gun? Ohhh.. does that umm make it safe? 😉
So it should be stunt Amanda.. in those heels? Poor KJ’s tendons couldn’t cope..
Lovely to hear from ya KC, hope your mood is improving.. [btw I posted on Neds about transcribing]
bye!
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That’s a phaser Iwsod! Francine shoots with a phaser, not ray gun! Geeeez, do we Star Trek geeks have to do everything???! quickly runs away before Iwsod grabs her chocolate!
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Too late Jule!! got my 85% lindt! 🙂
ah yes.. I am busted.. I don’t know star trek well! 🙂
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mmm. 85% Lindt. My very favorite. I think I’ve got some in the cupboard now . . .
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whooooo LASinLA! Glad to see a kindred spirit here! Yummy!!
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Love that silent communication between Lee and Amanda. You could see Lee getting Amanda’s attention as he moves forward and she gets it right away. Just shows that all is right between them and with their world. They are in sync with one another.
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Hi Valerie – so true they are in Sync I love it!!!
Hey how are you going with your weather? you back at work today? Hope you are hanging in there!
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We ended up going back to school the next day, however 500 plus other schools were out. Therefore, we had to deal with the “whiners convention” of student (and a few parent) complaints. Technically there were more than 500 closed as whole districts will call off for all the schools in that area. Most of our school population does not walk to school so the cold wouldn’t have been an issue.
We are supposed to be getting another storm starting this evening and through tomorrow as well as one is being predicted for sometime in the middle of next week. It is time for winter to just go away. Starting to rethink my whole retirement idea of staying north.
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Ugh!!!! Poor Valerie!! Hope things improve for ya.. Maybe dealing with the cold isn’t so bad when you aren’t a teacher wondering if you should go to school and dealing with whiny kids and parents?
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As he is moving towards her and talking Lee looks Amanda in the eyes and points towards the conveniently situated and armed suit of armour. There is lots of eye communication going on after this moment but he definitely gestures to help her get the gist of his idea.
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Who displays a suit of armour right in front of a freakin’ window anyway? Aghhh! This episode is so nutty on so many levels. But, we get to see some neat relationship stuff between Lee and Amanda and plenty of Corvette, so pass the dark chocolate and Pinot Noir and I am sure everything seem perfectly right and logical in no time. 😉
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Hey Kiwismh! LOL! I know what you mean.. ‘nutty’ is a fabulous way to describe this episode.. at times this show! 100% agree with you: very ‘neat relationship stuff’!!! 🙂
I must say now I’ve written the posts up to the middle of Vigilante Mothers- I’m finding the plot craters to be more frequent in these last few episodes! (sorry, it’s not getting any better! Craters! Plot craters!) Slightly exasperating..
Today I found myself thinking- I really do love this show!!!! but these plots? gah!!!
Then I told myself – I don’t watch smk for the plots!
..if I want intricate plots that make sense, I’ll go read John Le Carre or watch the closer
..if I want a great mystery I’ll go read Agatha Christie or watch Columbo
..if I want cool car chases and action sequences I’ll watch James Bond or Jason Bourne 😉
But!!
…if I want to laugh and feel good and watch a love story which unfolds in a beautifully nuanced and well done way with characters that I love love love? [one of whom I swoon over in spite of the fact he drives a vette 😉 ] then it’s going to be smk everytime baby!
I don’t mind having a laugh over the plot holes schmot holes.. it doesn’t diminish my enjoyment of the show – I just hope that by discussing them I am not diminishing others’.
I am thinking that in seasons 3 and 4, the show decided to pick up the pace with the action, the pacing of the episodes, the complexity of the drama and baddies.. maybe the show could see that towards the end of season 2 – the show’s plotting was really getting to be below the level of quality these wonderful characters deserve (and wonderful actors). I suspect some people were phoning in with their work- you know what I mean?! At the end of a long season, they got too comfortable??
I remember reading articles about all this and how they tried to improve the quality of the plots. [I might try and find them and start a thread on Neds- but I won’t now it’s getting late and I need to call it a night- someone else can if you like- go for it!]
I’ll be looking forward to exploring this more as we head into season 3, I remember thinking the plot is important, but it’s not the main act- the characters are the main act- you know? so while the plot had to be good, it had to be good so we could enjoy the main characters..
Oh dear.. I’ve gone off on a ramble.. blame all the 85% lindt chocolate I’ve eaten today.. and my (only) slight exasperation with this ‘nutty’ show I am crazy about!!! 🙂
byeee!
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“But!!
…if I want to laugh and feel good and watch a love story which unfolds in a beautifully nuanced and well done way with characters that I love love love? [one of whom I swoon over in spite of the fact he drives a vette 😉 ] then it’s going to be smk everytime baby!”
Yay, iwsod, you go girl!! I’m clueless enough to not notice a plot hole even if I fell right into it, so I stiII continue to cherish SMK in oblivous bliss. As for that suit of armor in front of the window, well, I am sure that is part of Jordan’s security plan. What baddie would storm a castle, uh, mansion, that is guarded by formidable Rennaissance knights? This scene even goes to show you just how dangerous they can be. And no red or black buttons required to operate them!
To carry on a fine tradition of rambling, this security ploy reminds me of something that was advertized here in the US about 10 years back, maybe longer…not sure if it was ever offered outside the US. You could buy a life-sized mannequin to put in the front seat of your car. It was advertIized as a security feature for women driving alone. Maybe. I think its real intent was to make it look like you had multiple passengers in your car so you could ride in the fast-moving HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lane during rush hour traffic.
While rambling, I should mention that there is a better chance I will be keeping up with the blog now, yay! My “for play” laptop has finally been repaired by my hubby and it is now velcro’d to my treadmill (whose idea was that, was it yours, iwsod?) so hopefully it is secure. I will probably add some additional “securinty features. (Look at that, I brought the ramble back on topic, hehe!) But if I can read the blog while I do my walking, I am hoping I can now keep up!
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Yay, Raffie! Keep that laptop secure, we’re glad you’re back in the swing of things.
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whooo hoooooo! Raffie’s back! Raffie’s back!! 🙂
Me? suggest Velcro? gosh I don’t remember suggesting Velcro- but I like it! 🙂 Glad you have your smk time sorted Raffie (and lookin after your health! good for you! 🙂 )
Your comment about no red buttons or black buttons required had me Lol’ing!!!! 🙂
Yeah I hadn’t stopped to think about why there is a Knight there.. it really is ridiculous. Maybe it was one of Amanda’s additional suggestions?? Along with the random strobe lighting in the bedroom? 😉
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In general I think that TV programming is just now starting to find itself. There were many shows in the 80s and the 90s that were rife with plot holes, crater-sized and even larger. Some of the dramas and grittiness of the 70s gave way to the glitz, glamor, and slickness of the 80s. And now we still have some of the craziness with the ridiculousness of reality programming. But there was a lot of goodness and wholesomeness to those programs of the 70s and 80s. Some shows I could never watch again, but there has been a resurgence of some of those great shows, especially the family based ones. They’ve been showing them on some of the cable channels here.
While the premise of SMK wouldn’t necessarily work today, the relationship of the characters and their journey together has a resonance that appeals to us to this day. The overall story was more about Lee and Amanda and their overcoming personal obstacles to find their way to each other. That story in itself is timeless. So while there are obvious plot holes I think that they become filled in by the overall story of their relationship.
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Absolutely – hear hear!
Beautifully put Valerie!! Timeless is the perfect word to describe the charm of this show.. The triumph of the human heart!
I guess in a sense that means we could transport the heart of the show to Tudor England no?
Umm Lee and Amanda work for the protestants.. and umm fight the catholics? oh dear.. My head hurts.. too much horrible histories!!! whoooo aren’t I bad!!! 🙂 Billy could be Sir Francis Walsingham! 😉 oh boy am I off topic. – signing off before I go even more off track! byeee!
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I don’t have much SMK time tonight, maybe tomorrow night. but I have to say “like” to the eye talk!!!
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Good thing part of Byron’s ‘business meeting’ with Amanda included the simple way to override the whole security system. He sure was a trusting bloke, since he knew Amanda less than 24 hours. Maybe that explains why he got involved with evil Tucker in the first place.
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Oh boy.. so true! well.. I guess Byron trusted the agency – so he therefore trusted Amanda.. a bit of a stretch I know! but we gotta fill these plot craters somehow!
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ROFL! I’m just glad it’s too late to be drinking anything right now or I’d be cleaning up my computer screen again….
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