Hi everyone!! A huge thanks to everyone who has helped transcribe this episode!! This one was a big JWWM joint effort!
Also just a reminder that for August – JWWM is on a go slow.. posts will continue to be published but less frequently.
It can be tempting to jump ahead when there aren’t new posts to discuss.. so please kindly help each other (and me) to resist this temptation and stay with the story – [readers trying to catch up will appreciate this too]
But! Any chatter between posts can continue over at Nedlindger’s forum. If you’re around between posts and want a chat- do say hi!! If you’re not a member there do sign up (it’s easy) and say hi- anything you want to discuss can be talked about at Neds freely (I’ll be skimming for spoilers – but others might not!).
On with the show!!
Ahhhh Oh la la.. The episode opens with a panorama of Paris..LOL Hilarious how we are told it is ‘Paris’ when it’s so flippin obvious!
(Hmm in ALLA last episode we walked through we started with a panorama of Italy!)
We get to titles with the same shot.. Oh la laaa.
What a fab way to start an episode! If only Lee and Amanda had visited..
My my.. look at how old the cars are in Paris! 
Love the quirky French music to begin with..(love those little touches smk does so well!)
We see some guy working with Lab equipment..
Ohhh I see! You can see the powder is being measured and then poured into the red liquid.
He then pours the liquid into a beaker, we see him randomly pour it into something else.. lol.. lots of evil pouring going on!
Then the camera pans over to reveal there’s a small army of French men (He has a striped t-shirt! He’s French!) pouring red liquid into wine bottles. Guess it’s wine!) He has a gun? uh oh.. these French dudes guard their wine secrets very seriously lol.. okay so it probably has something to do with the white powder they are dissolving into the wine!
They cork the bottles of wine.
French dude: Make sure those corks are in tight eh!… [yes because a Frenchman wouldn’t know to make sure the cork is in tight] …we don’t want any slip ups through American customs (such amazing use of a colloquialism! slip ups? what French person would say that!)
Another French dude sho doesn’t even sound remotely French: Oui, especially since the good senator is kind enough to VIP us through without any inspections.
(bit hard to hear that last bit as a baddie hammers closed a wine case)
The voices here are so funny! In Paris, speaking English to each other- but clearly Americans trying to have a French accent while speaking English.. oh just go with it Iwsod!
As the baddie puts a red label on the wine case we hear a baddie pondering: I wonder what their reaction would be! If they knew there was Heroin in these bottles!!! (Mais Oui! )Now that line and it’s delivery is funny!! Muahahahaaha!!!
Moving on we see someone (we learn this is the Senator) carrying the wine case out of a shop and putting it into a car boot (trunk!) all while being recorded.. Quelle Horreur!!
[interesting.. now the red label is on top of the crate?? rofl! the magic label!]
Who is the mysterious third party filming this??
I tell you what, if I looked up and saw that at a window – It would blend right in!! (not!)
A baddie helps carry another case to the car.. this time with no red label.
[red label= Heroin. I think I’ve got it.. this ep requires too much thinking already without jumping ahead to specifics- does anyone else find this episode’s plot to be too much of a brain twister?? Maybe together we can work it out!]
Next thing, we see the Concorde landing.. Ohhhh I’m so sad I never got to go on Concorde!! 
However, I’m excited to see another Aussie moment in smk!!! See behind the Concorde there is a Qantas airplane (Australia’s national carrier) – you can clearly see the flying Kangaroo!!!!
We see the two crates (one with a red label and one without-interesting, now the label is on the side- okay now I see there is two labels one on top and one on the side) be collected a US customs officer who picks them up (and totally puts his back out- I cringe watching him move those crates!! Bend the knees!!)
and takes them through the ‘diplomatic customs VIP clearance’ doors.. 
On to Amanda’s…
has Amanda’s front garden shrunk? [Is there heroin in my tea?!]
Amanda and Dotty are racing to beat their best time for putting away the groceries.. 
haaa.. is this like when you don’t want to do something so you make it a race to make it a bit more fun?
Oh this is funny! Amanda and Dotty must be wearing their ‘let’s put away the groceries’ uniforms – they’re dressed practically the same!!!!
Ugh!! Buck just lets himself in through the back door..
Amanda has a go at Buck!: Buck how it usually works is you knock on the door and I say come in.
Buck helps himself to their coffee… (then again, Lee has been known to do that too hasn’t he??!!) I see he brought his own empty coffee cup with him – so I guess that’s why he decided to stop by.. maybe he’s out of coffee.
Buck: Yeah, I know. this is an emergency!
Buck declares the neighbourhood is dead..
Dotty: HUH??? Who’s dead?!
[so funny-love Dotty!!]
Buck decides to throw: an old fashioned block party.
Amanda thinks their neighbours won’t be interested.. (they’re quiet and mostly retired- really? I thought it was all families)
Amanda wrestles with her timer.. stopping it because Buck won’t stop talking.
Buck: A costume party! Better yet a come as you’re favourite movie character party.
Dotty: Buck, No. Not on this block.
Buck: no no no we can get a permit we close off the street.
Amanda is exasperated.. [packing groceries is so much more interesting huh]
Amanda: Buck Please!!!
[she really wants to get back to the grocery race – what’s the hurry!! They take this game of theirs very seriously indeed!!
They’re timing putting away the groceries.. hmmm.. Buck might be right – this neighbourhood really is dead and in need of some fun!]
Amanda starts the timer again with great dramatics.. and the race is back on..
Buck: I bet I can even score one of those search lights to give it that Hollywood premier touch. Yeah. I’ll get my WC Fields costume out of the mothballs!!..
(with WC fields accent he points to Dotty and adds) …oh this is gonna be sharp! okay…
(as he reaches the door Amanda opens it for him to let him out)
…Thank you my little chickadee!
So this is our second reference to WC fields.. Ugh he is too annoying.. just get out! [I love how there are zero hints from Dotty about Amanda and Buck being a couple – I think Dotty would put her foot down there!! He’s sooo annoying!!]
Dotty: Amanda, what did we do to deserve a neighbour like that?
Amanda: I don’t know mother but I’m gonna change that lock. [hmm or you could just try using it for a change ]
Dotty: how did we do?
Amanda clicks at her stop watch(did she just stop it?!): Ohhh a record!!!
Dotty: good!!!
They’re both excited at their record and rush off in different directions- race is over ladies! lol.. whatever floats your boat!
Moving on to a huge mansion..
We see the senator back from his trip to 
Paris.. He’s talking to a delivery guy about to hand over the case of wine with the red label- only we see him pull one bottle out for himself first. [looks like the red label is permanently on the side and top]
Senator: I brought this collection into the country myself. This wine… (the one with the red label) is an anonymous donation to the auction so ah get them to sign the… (he points at what the delivery guy is holding)
…receipt letter in there and bring it back to my house okay?
Delivery guy with the knucklehead hat nods.
The Senator continues: Don’t forget or my tax accountant will come after you! Addressed to a Mr Twillie Congressman McNeil?
[I think I just learned something.. Senators and Congressman can be addressed as ‘congressman’? is that right?]
McNeil: uh huh. People pay good money for the names of charity donors (he hammers the case closed as he speaks) and Mr Twillie gives me some business.
[lol you’d think he’d be a bit less open about this given he’s in public office!]
Knucklehead chuckles..: and Mr Twillie couldn’t resist a bottle for himself.
McNeil: ha haa.. well Charity Begins at Home! ha haaa 
(whooo smk reference! )
So the congressman claims the donation on his taxes, even though the name on the receipt is Mr Twillie? how does that work? eh??!!!
Knucklehead: I guess.
McNeil: So! When will this be delivered?
Knucklehead: whoo gee it’s hard to say, it goes to the warehouse, and waits in line and then it gets shipped out and we are backed up to the ceiling. [model employee, he ain’t!]
(McNeil gives Knucklehead a tip)
McNeil: well, see what you can do.
Knucklehead: Gosh a whole five!
McNeil: Hey! I’m only a congressman.
[Shouldn’t he say he’s only a Senator? Would a Senator refer to themself as a Congressman? Help Americans!! Please give us non Americans the run down!
What a tightwad!!! yeah right, that’s why you have a huge cellar full of wine and live in a great big mansion?!]
The men share a chuckle.. though I think Knucklehead is unimpressed.. passive aggressive!
The Senator takes his case of wine (without the red label) and the one bottle from the other case and leaves his office/cellar –
whooo check out the WC fields outfit on the hat stand!! 
Next thing we see one of the bottles of wine being decanted..
(we can see the unopened case of wine without red label in view-I guess.. I mean it moves around so much! So this is the bottle he pilfered from the charity auction- hope you guys are gonna help keep track of these flippin wine bottles!)
The shot widens to reveal a bunch of people dressed as monks in a cellar.
(looks like their flag is a big bug haaa) What is this dungeons and dragons for wine appreciators?
They all smell their wine and share a toast.
McNeil: Ahhh Salut a le sang de Bacchus!
Together they raise their glasses and then each have a taste.. Hmm not impressed!!
One of the weird monks: What the hell is wrong with this Jim? I think you got stuck with a bad bottle.
The three men all look around confused and disappointed.
McNeil: I hope the whole case isn’t bad.
[Looks like he gets paid so poorly he dresses as a monk ]
More confused looks are shared.. I’m sharing their confused looks right now.. those guys are weird! Maybe they were worshipping the Greek God Bacchus or something.. and the Bacchus wine grape is just a coincidence
Well cue the sinister music! Something’s not right!
We see the Senator speeding in his car across traffic, coming to a screeching halt (window down).
In the close up the window is up and he’s coughing and spluttering.. He struggles against the closed window wanting more air.
(man shouldn’t have just put it up in that split second there pal!)
Umm I know it’s not funny a guy dying and all.. but his face here and expressions he pulls are pretty funny!! These need a meme!!
He seems to be channelling Marcel Marceau!!!
Well, the tightwad, slightly shifty Senator/ Congressman is dead! And with that.. I shall finish here for the moment.. back with more in a few days..
Please keep on topic – it’s great for people trying to catch up who can’t follow the walk- that way they don’t have to sift through conversations not related to the blog post – head over to Neds to discuss anything you like off topic [Marcel Marceau?! Wine? WC Fields?]!
No one to thank for transcribing Sour Grapes yet, I did this bit! LOL.. but stay tuned!! Looking forward to hearing what you make of Buck and of Dotty and Amanda- the competition grocery unpackers!! Going for Gold!!! byeee for now my lovely fellow smk fans!!
"Just walk with me.." 
Was watching this the other night.
Once I read about the scene in My Little Chickadee where the masked man visits the lady for a kiss and maybe more, Lee showing up with the mask to Amanda made more sense!
As for kitchen competition, Buck stands out more to me. Every time I see him I think, what would happen if he and Lee crossed paths out back? Maybe I need to write a fanfic on this.
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Oh please do! I’d LOVE to read that!
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Thanks for making the connections here on the movie. When I looked up WC Fields and My Little Chickadee movie, Lee showing up in a mask to kiss her made so much sense. No wonder Amanda was suddenly so thrilled, she knew the movie.
As for Buck, I think like Mr. Brand episode, the new head writer that season was trying to bring more comedy to the show, but it came off annoying. I’ve got a fanfic idea for how I think Lee would deal with Buck. I can’t be the only one imagining what would happen if they both found each other in the backyard at the same time. Harmless or not, I think Lee’s feelings for Amanda were shifting into drive so to speak. Amanda herself appears annoyed by Buck too and she finds the good in almost anyone!
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I remember reading that the actor playing had time left on his network or studio contract, so they stuck him in a few SMK eps to finish it.
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Buck is kind of a knucklehead…..who in their right mind just walks in someone’s house, interrupts what’s going on, pours himself a cup of coffee and just makes himself at home?? Gosh, I wouldn’t even expect a relative to be that brazen…However, it appears he’s done this before because Amanda wasn’t shocked by it, she just continued on with her grocery race….but anyway, even if she did tell him off, Buck wouldn’t he bothered by it, I don’t think you can insult or hurt his feelings, he’s oblivious to it all.
Who would ever consider hooking Amanda and Buck as a couple????? Oh gag, that’s sick.
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The groceries scene…. I wonder if Amanda is employing some Agency training techniques in her home life. It kind of reminds me of the training exercise at the beginning of MBF.
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It is setting up like Dotty and Amanda are the boring neighbors. Dotty does not act her age and is out there camping with her grand kids and is still dating. And Amanda’s secrete life is so exciting, she is probably happy when home life is “boring.” I guess after a couple of serious episodes (Wizard with all of the murdered women agents and ALLA with the kidnapped sister) we needed some humor in an episode. Maybe Buck was just intended to provide some comic relief. Maybe also as a contrast to Amanda becoming more serious and professional and less “ditsy.”
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that’s a good point LAAL.. I think you are on to something! Buck probably was put in there to balance things out – as much as I find him annoying, I’ll probably be one of the first to complain when a) Amanda is dumbed down and made to look a fool or b) when the show is too serious!
I’m so hard to please 😉
Amanda I can understand.. but I thought Dotty had a bit more life in her- at least she started off that way with her passion in her arches and all 😉
Maybe she just assumed her boring neighbours wouldn’t be interested.. I guess we’ll see how this pans out huh!
Great to hear from ya!
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Sorry, I can’t help keep track of the wine bottles since I am lost already. Why did the senator even need to swipe one of the charity auction bottles, when he had a full case right there? The plot in this ep is a bit confusing.
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I too always wondered why he took a bottle from the auction box ! Why not just take it from the box he was going to keep … I mean, who wants to buy an open case of wine with only 11 bottles? Was he trying to make it more mysterious and rare? Totally lost on me. But then again, if he had not taken that bottle, then I guess we wouldn’t have a plot for our episode! lol.
I actually love the scene about the grocery competition. Total seems like something I would do. As an only child, you are always looking for creative ways to entertain yourself! 🙂
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Oh ROFL at your line: Lots of evil pouring going on!!!
I don’t know anything about W.C. Fields so I don’t really get the references to him or the movie.
That dying Senator is hilarious 🙂 He almost has a Jim Carey look to me.
The US has 3 branches to our government: 1) The Executive Branch (The President- is suppose to enforce the law) 2) The Legislative Branch [Makes the laws- There are 2 parts to this branch the Senate (Senators) and The House of Representatives (Representative). Each state has 2 Senators and the Representatives are based on population. The Senate and House of Rep. are generically called Congress therefore an individual can be called a Congressman. 3) Judicial Branch (Appointed Judges that are suppose to interpret the law. Then to add to the confusion each state has 3 branches in their own state government with a Governor as the head. So we have separate State and Federal Senators and Representatives. Sorry for the brief US History (government) lesson 🙂
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And, don’t some states have only one legislative house while others have two? Then we have regional and local municipalities that have their special structures. Trust us Americans to complicate things. 🙂
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Hello everyone! Just stepping out in my moderator role for the first time. I’m the ‘western hemisphere moderator’ while iwsod’s sleeping…zzzzz. In case anyone is tempted to discuss the complicated American government system further, please take it over to Ned’s! Thanks Melissa, debilyn, and Valerie for explaining it so far!
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I’d dearly love to know where they found that knucklehead hat. Same place they found Dotty’s sweater? 😉
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I had to google “knucklehead hat”. Ah the rabbit holes abound in SMK fandom…and I like Dotty’s sweater. Not so keen on the ??pseudo-French hat-thingy
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Yeah, I like Dotty’s sweater, too. Both of those articles of clothing make statements. 😀
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Ugh. Buck is that neighbour. Respect? What’s that? :p
“Yeah. I’ll get my WC Fields costume out of the mothballs!!..”
I love the screenshot here of Buck just standing there talking to himself while Dotty and Amanda are blurs, running around the kitchen.
“how did we do?” “Ohhh a record!!!”
But, obviously, not enough of a record to warrant telling Dotty their time, or how much they beat the previous record by, etc. :p 😉 😀
“He seems to be channelling Marcel Marceau!!!”
Actually, for some reason, I always think of Ace Ventura (Pet Detective; aka Jim Carrey) when I see this clip. My bad. 😀
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The “French” guys at the beginning always make me think of a scene from The Great Muppet Caper:
“Why are you telling me this?”
“It’s plot exposition, it has to go somewhere.”
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I’m not so annoyed with Buck. Although I never saw him as potential for Amanda, but he has obviously popped over for coffee before since he had the cup with him and knew exactly where to go. He also didn’t ask to get any. While he seems to be somewhat irksome to Amanda and Dotty, they don’t just tell him to get out, they engage in part of the conversation. What’s funny is how he doesn’t see that he is bothering Amanda and Dotty. He just continues to prattle on and make plans. I do appreciate the fact that he is trying to get his neighbors involved and active. Block parties used to be a pretty big deal in some neighborhoods and the streets did get closed off for the party.
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Just a quick couple of comments. The timing of putting away the groceries was something I did once with my brother. At one point I was put in charge of the grocery shopping..long story. Anyway, my brother was the one who had to drive me and we used to make little competitions out of everything. Putting away the groceries was one of them. The one thing I always focus on with this is how they can’t possibly have put everything in the right place and how they just sort of tossed things in the cabinets. Not very organized.
The Congress of the United States is made up of two houses–the Senate and House of Representatives. Therefore they are all Congresspersons and can be referred to as such and can also be addressed as Senator or Representative. I think Faber in ALLA was referred to as Representative Faber by Billy at one point. Hope that helps.
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As to how they refer to themselves – we have a local Senator who refers to himself as a Congressman in general practice, though he does use Senator in more formal settings. I assume it would depend on the personal preference of the Congressperson.
I do think this is a interesting way to start the episode – a little seriousness, a little light humor. I’m sure timing themselves for putting away the groceries was a little levy for them – anything to make a boring task more fun. And yes, Iwsod, the faces of that poor dying man were simply hilarious despite the seriousness of what was happening.
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Thanks for clearing that up 🙂
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I think we’re supposed to imagine those French baddie guys are talking French… and I wish they were because, you’re right Iwsod, that last line is a real clunker.
Amanda’s house is totally different than it was in the First Season, and she’s had some rather large trees removed. However, she has planted a new one in the front yard. How quickly will it grow I wonder?… will it still be there next week?…will she still have the same house next week?…what must the neighbours’ think? Well, maybe they’ll all discuss it at the street party Herb – er, I mean, Buck, is planning. 😉
Agree Iwsod, a shame Concorde no longer flies. I think it was an expensive way to fly. You would’ve had to save many pennies for a trip on that beautiful plane.
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Ohhh I was so sad when Concorde ended.. I was entering every competition I could find to get on one.. anyway I don’t want to get off topic here so if anyone wants to further discuss competitions or concorde (LOL) I’ll find you over on Neds! 🙂
lol I could have imagined the baddies were speaking French if they weren’t using such English language like ‘slip ups’ lol!!!!
Ah thanks for clearing that up about Amanda’s house.. thought I might have had a bit of heroin in my tea or something.. (I did have a crazy hankering for Marcel Marceau!)
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Hello, Qantas ‘roo [the learjet waves at the Aussie plane]. Although I can never afford to fly Qantas – it’s usually Jetstar for me :).
When I see that “beating our best time to pack away the groceries” scene, I just think – Amanda you need some more hours at the Agency (or some more hours of Lee) if that is the best you can come up with to add some excitement to your life. Can someone painlessly put me out of my misery if I do that…
Iwsod, I salute you for making me laugh at these scenes – they are rather dry – and I don’t mean the red wine (please excuse that appalling pun, it’s been a long day)
The dying man does a good job too…
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thanks Learjet! Loved the roo!! 🙂
Oh phew.. it’s not just me who finds it a bit sad they are timing putting away their groceries??!!! teee hee..
Ah thanks Learjet- I have to make it amusing for myself too.. nice pun by the way! I like a dry red wine 😉 tee hee
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Phew, I’m glad I’m not the only one who finds the dying senator hilarious :D! Then again, with congress in the sorry state it’s in….. (Oh dear, am I being naughty as usual?)
Seriously, Amanda and Dotty must be sublimating quite a bit of rampant uh, energy to be this crazed about groceries LOL! Yep, had to go there 😉
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‘sublimating rampant energy’ I’m going to have to use this line. 🙂
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