Amanda and Lee are on the lookout for Cobbs corner and some root beer.. but before we find it.. we hear some military drums.. Let’s not forget we are in the country- and evil things happen in the country in SMK! 
Sacker: You boys did a good job. What’s the matter Hollis? You don’t look happy.
[Is it just me or does ‘Sacker’ always make you 
think of ‘Sucker’?!
Ahhh so that Hollis is codenamed Leprechaun?.. you must be joking! ]
Hollis: I’m not. Look, you say we’re supposed to be blowin’ power lines, right? Transformers. So since when do we need anti-aircraft rockets to do that?
[Oh dear.. Hollis is asking the boss direct questions?! lol..sounds like something Lee would do haaaaaa.. ]
Sacker: I’ll do the thinking here – you’re getting paid to follow orders, and you’re getting paid a lot. All of your are.
Hollis: I just like to know what’s goin’ on. [Well derr! He’s paying you not to ask questions.. even I can see that!] …I don’t mind taking the risk, I just want to know what I’m taking them for? [Money! you freaky little Leprechaun! You are taking the risk because you are being paid to! I don’t think he understands the concept of being a mercenary!]
Sacker: Look, let’s get something straight here Hollis – you were hired on as a mercenary. Yours is not to reason why, understood? You just follow orders.
[Oh dear.. looks like Hollis is being really nosey and pushy.. and getting himself into trouble]
Hollis: Yes sir.
With this, Hollis walks away.. but too late Hollis, you’ve already been too suspicious!
Sacker: Tell me Rogan, what do you think of our Mr Hollis?
Rogan: Well, he’s wrapped a little too tight for my money but if he just flew in from Central America I guess it’s understandable.
Sacker: What about you? How do you feel about all this?
[We cut to a close up of Rogan.. lol what’s with the toothpick?!]
Rogan: Like you said Mr Sacker, we’re gettin’ paid to do a job. Your reasons are your own business.
Sacker: So you’re not even a little bit curious about what it is I’m up to here?
Rogan: I got some ideas. Let’s just say the less I know the better. [I can’t help but think that is exactly what Hollis should have been saying.. but then again, I guess Rogan really is a mercenary – apparently he is particularly mercenary with anything caught between his teeth!!! ]
Was anyone at this point still wondering if Hollis had turned bad? I think we are suppose to..but to me he acts like an agent trying to get information.. lol!
Next thing, we see Lee and Amanda speed up to the front of Cobbs Corner and park.
Hey, see next to Lee? I think that is one of those old sliding credit card machines!! remember those?? ROFL!!! and what’s with the ‘Vista’ sign?? I can’t make out what the one next to it says, but it is the master card symbol.. is this a substitute for the Visa sign because they couldn’t use it?? Anyway, I thought it was really funny how the credit card machine is just sitting on there outside all by itself when Lee and Amanda pull up.. I mean those things are worth money and would have had the cobbs corner plate in it.. (can you tell I used one of these once? in my first job as a young girl?? so glad they are history!) Oops I digress! Anyway, back to the show!
We hear raised voices inside the shop as Lee and Amanda get out of the jeep.
Woman yells: —And stay out you good-for-nothin!!!!
An old guy comes running out of the shop, closely followed by something breakable shattering.. Lee and Amanda take cover with the old guy.
[Kiwismh has identified the woman as Wanda Jenkins- that’s hilarious that is her name?!] Kiwismh- thanks soooo much for transcribing this episode!!!!! We salute you!!
The old guy says: Just a little misunderstanding.
[Kiwismh identifies his name as Arvil Jenkins.. lol with these names!!]
Lee: What?!
Amanda: Are you kidding?!
Arvil: What’d’you folks need? Gas? Food? Er, Something to drink? [lol I think Arvil needs a drink!]
Lee: No, ah, actually we’re looking for a 
place called New Utopia.
[Why doesn’t Lee show a photo of Sacker or something? oh whatev!]
Arvil: Aint we all!…
[Genius comeback!!!]
…It doesn’t ring a bell.
Lee: Yeah, well, we’re trying to find a couple of friends of ours – Peter Sacker and Curt Hollis.
[And.. still no photo!]
Arvil: You better ask the Missus. I’m only up 
here a couple of days a month.
[You can almost hear him thinking- that’s a couple of days too many!]
At this Amanda quietly smiles at Lee, neither of them want to go in there and talk to the screaming banshee!
Lee: Well, maybe you oughta introduce us, huh?!
Arvil: My Mama didn’t raise no fools.
[I don’t know.. you did marry her! lol.. but I still love this comeback.. again- a brilliant, retort from Arvil! Whahaha!!]
Lee moves on quickly..: ah…
(he super casually approaches Amanda)
… Ah Amanda, w-
[Lee, she’s on to you! Love the brief look here on Amanda’s face right before she lowers the shutters on Lee!]
Amanda: You’re right,..
…I should wait here by the car.
(Amanda cuts off Lee.. who I guess was about to ask would you go in kinda thing..)
It’s so funny how she doesn’t even look him in the eye..She lets it sink in.. then gives him a little sideways glance. haaaa..
I think this is a little payback for Lee’s dig – remember? “Well Amanda I’m afraid your knowledge of the Blue Jays secret campsites isn’t gonna help us right now.”
[what do you think? do tell!!]
whahahahaaha!!!!! Another gag on the old wait in the car running joke!!!! Genius!!!
What are you making of this scene here??
So.. Amanda has cut Lee off.. cue the kooky country comb playing music or whatever the heck that is! lol!!
Lee begins to walk closer to the shop entrance
(You’d think that he’d call out to Wanda that he’s armed, goodlookin and not Wanda’s husband.. but well.. I guess this way is more fun!)
.. Lee walks veeery slowly.. tee hee.. BB does such a great job here – Lee approaches with trepidation and a casualness we don’t quite believe.. super tough guy Lee is scared!!!! tee heee..
Lee arrives at the door.. and turns back with a lopsided smile to look at Amanda.. Ohhh do I have to???!!!
We see Amanda encouraging him, waving him on.. being super encouraging. haa!!! Such great delivery here!!
Amanda: Go on in!!
Lee motions a little- 
ohhhh ohhhhkaaaaayy…
and gently opens the door- eek!
The door closes behind Lee and we hear lovely Wanda growl: You mangy dog!!!!!!
[Is it just me or is it plain hilarious to think that Lee got called a Mangy Dog?!!!]
We hear a bang crash in the shop.. a pot bouncing off the wall?
Outside we see both Amanda and Arvil flinch in reaction to this sound – whaahahaaa!!!
Soooo funny!! I love their reactions!!! Don’t you??!! Just brilliant how we are left to imagine what’s going on in there poor Lee tee hee!
We hear a few more things shattering and then Wanda in a much more kind voice says: Oops, sorry about that. [tee heee!!!]
(We hear Lee grunt – like he is getting up off the floor maybe??!! hey.. any ripping sounds?! )
Lee: It’s all right, Ma’am – close only counts in horseshoes.
[haaaa!!! Lee you charmer!! hey this close horseshoes thing- did Lee make that up? or is that an old saying or something?? anyone??]
Hearing that Lee seems okay.. Arvil gives Amanda a commentary!
Arvil: That was a miss!
Seeing that Amanda is not impressed that his wife is throwing stuff at Lee.. Arvil makes his excuses and gets out of there. (for another month maybe! lol!)
No sooner has Arvil escaped, than we see a kid walk up carrying a bow and arrow???!!!! 
[my goodness.. this is truly scary! Someone please tell me kids aren’t roaming the woods shooting at things with a real bow and arrows???!!! ]
Amanda approaches him..
Amanda: Well hello there.
Bow and Arrow Kid: Hi.
[Kiwismh has found out his name is Buddy – thanks Kiwismh!]
Ahhh and this kid is little David Faustino right?? from Married with Children? too funny!
Amanda: Been hunting? Junior Trailblazer? (Buddy nods)
[Wait a minute.. call the police.. this kid has been hunting Junior trailblazers!!! run Amanda!!! run!!!! ]
…Heeeeyyy!!!! —
Amanda reaches out and does a crazy handshake with Buddy.
I really hope that’s a trailblazer thing.. 😉 tee heee..
Too funny how Amanda, the adult is so enthusiastic.. and the kid is bemused by her!
Amanda: ha haaa!
Buddy: Give me a break, lady.
Amanda: Think it’s corny? [I love that 
Amanda picks up on this.. she knows what she is! I love that she enjoys it! 
] 
Buddy: Yeah.
Amanda: I know. My boy Philip made it all the way to Racoon – he thinks it’s corny.
[Anyone else wish we could have gotten to see Lee’s reaction to the handshake?!!! ]
Buddy: Wow.
[Guessing Racoon is equivalent to grand poobaaaaa???!!!]
Next thing- we see the Jeep is on the road again… but.. I’ll pause here for the moment.. good to stop and relish this part of the episode.. hen pecked men.. flying horseshoes and lots of laughs!!! I can’t wait to hear from you all! byeee and back with more soon!
"Just walk with me.." 
#2019 rewatch
That remote Cobb’s Corner has a fascination with Native American lore. First, it has a plaque outside with a totem motif. Since totem poles were exclusive to the Pacific Northwest (including southern Alaska) it’s a real oddity in rural Virginia. Next, there’s a life-size figure of an Indian with full headdress next to the door. My guess? It’s an historic “Cigar Store Indian” that signified the shop carries tobacco products. Native tribes in Virginia introduced tobacco to the English as a new item for trade. Lastly, along comes a kid with his bow and arrow! Curious like me about the tribe in this area? They’re the Monacan, a Siouan-speaking people, who moved further inland to stay away from the English settling along the Virginia coast. I wouldn’t be surprised if they moved again when the Jenkins arrived!
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Ahhhh late to the party here I see, yes that is a variant of the saying “close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” and Frank Robinson was the first to say it, it was in reference to baseball and the full quote was “close dont count in baseball, it only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.” 🙂
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Sacker also references a quote here: “Theirs not to make reply, Theirs not to reason why,Theirs but to do and die . . . ” from The Charge of the Light Brigade. This is the poem’s ideal soldier; guess it goes for mercenaries, too.
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oh cool thanks LASinLA!
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Peter Sacker looks so goofy…I like him much better as Clint Eastwood’s sidekick in those Every Which Way But Loose movies. He partners well with Clyde, the orangutan.
I love this scene at Cobb’s Corner – I laugh out loud every time I see it. The old guy is a hoot! The old credit card ‘machines’? I always wanted to use one! I’m jealous, iwsod!
Haha! Good for you, Amanda! Love how you handle Lee here! Is it just me or is it funny how superspy Lee is afraid of a country “gal” who throws things? I guess they’re taking the stereotype thing here all the way to the limit.
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Oh BJo that has been bugging me!!!! so glad you solved this one – where had I seen Peter Sacker before??!!! He has such a great face for acting IMHO!
OH yeah those credit card machines felt really good to click clack! 🙂
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And his daughter is Juliette Lewis! I never would have made that connection without good ole Google!
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Hi Everyone! Just found in the script an interesting little insight..
Here’s how the script reads for the going into cobbs corner moment:
LEE: Maybe you should introduce us.
ARVIL: My mama didn’t raise no fools.
Lee looks over to Amanda, shrugs, and heads inside. Another dish crashes off the wall. Arvil winces; Amanda reacts, worried.
No hint of Lee suggesting Amanda go in.. and no comeback from Amanda!! wow!!! what we got is sooooo much better!!! 🙂
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It does play so much better the way that it was filmed. It adds more depth to Lee and Amanda’s interactions.
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You get the feeling that KJ and BB really knew their characters (more than the scriptwriters!) and that’s what really enriched the Lee/Amanda interactions. (And made SMK timeless)
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Wow – thanks for the casting note.. I didn’t realize the kid is from Married with Children. It’s a cute scene and I love how Amanda plays so subservient and demure when she says she should wait by the car.
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glad I mentioned it!
‘demure’ allofakind? that’s an awesome word!!!
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I love the return of feisty Amanda but she isn’t fighting with Lee now. She’s just manipulating him skillfully, but with great affection and love (?what type at this stage). I do enjoy watching Lee being out-manoeuvred by Amanda.
Buddy irritates me. As does the twanging from that instrument. But fortunately both Lee and Amanda look so good that I can let those minor irritations float past….
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I agree – fun watching Amanda go! I think Lee has out-manoeuvred himself in a way..[maybe in a broader sense too!] because he set up this situation.. it was only a matter of time before Amanda was able to turn it back on him 🙂
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“Ahhh so that Hollis is codenamed Leprechaun?.. you must be joking!”
I actually think it’s perfect as an under-the-radar/covert codename! Who’d pick him as Leprechaun?
I think the MasterCard knockoff reads “Bank Master”?
As others have said already, the horseshoe comment is an idiom — “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades…” (or variations thereof) and it’s used later in the ep, too–I think, deliberately… but I’ll zip my lips now… :p Oh, Iwsod, horseshoes = the game of horseshoes, in case you were wondering: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horseshoes
Is it just me, or does anyone else think that “Mrs. Arvil” [Wanda] sounds like Kathy Bates?!?!? (And, BTW, I love KJ’s yelp here.)
ROFL @ Amanda turning wait-in/by-the-car back around on Lee! (Go on in! Wah hah hah!)
Comb? Isn’t it a banjo? ❓
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KC, I’ve just spent 45 minutes trying to track down the instrument as I don’t think it sounds quite like a Jew’s Harp. Then typed this up and the computer swallowed it. Anyways, I don’t think it’s a banjo. Sounds a bit like a didgeridoo or didjeridu but lacks the plucking sound. Also have eliminated the mouth bow and the clackamore. And a few more rather obscure mouth instruments. I think it might be a Native American instrument – I listened to some beautiful ones during my ‘research’ – but not sure which one. This is really bugging me now…
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Hi Learjet.. I’ve posted a vid about this instrument at Nedlindger’s..
http://nedlindgers.proboards.com/thread/105/utopia-jaw-harp
Yeeee haaaa!
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Um.. sometimes my kids roam around my yard with bows and arrows. I don’t think that bow would send an arrow very far, very fast though.
Yes, close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. I hear that often enough and not from SMK people.
And I kind of like that jaw harp sound.
I am thinking that Lee and Amanda are navigating a lot here. Not just new personal territory, but also new professional territory. Isn’t this Amanda’s case that Lee is going along on? I need to think more about this.
I hope I can grab some time to comment more this week, but I do have a busy time with family visitors and dynamics coming up. Who knows maybe that will bring me to the SMK rabbit hole even more.
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I also know someone who shoots a bow and arrow in his backyard. He’s just using blunted target tips and firing at hay bales. I figured that Buddy was probably doing something similar. I doubt anyone gave Buddy arrows with sharp hunting tips. Kid-sized bows are also low-powered and wouldn’t send an arrow very far. In a rural area, with few neighbors spread far apart, there’s probably no danger, especially if he’s had some safety training through his scouting activities.
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lol! I still find the thought freaky! I had an accidental close call with an arrow once.. and I’ve seen horrible histories!!- I know what arrows can do!!! 😉 tee hee..
Above all, I just find the thought plain funny! spies.. tax reformers… horseshoes and kids with arrows.. the countryside is a crazy dangerous place! tee hee!!
The comb twang is funny and ridiculous sounding to my ears- very over the top, stereotyped ‘I’m in redneck country’ music to me.. but that’s because I’m not American!
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We have a bow and arrow that my girls use but they have to be really careful because while we live in the suburbs it is not rural at all. Luckily they aren’t that good at it so if the start at one end of the yard and point toward the other they run very little risk of it getting out of the yard and our next door neighbor is very elderly and never in his backyard. He also has 5 kids and many grandkids so he doesn’t mind a stray arrow from a kid. We love Horrible Histories 🙂
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Actually, I was worrying about my friend because he lives in a suburban area, and unlike most of the suburbs where we live, his doesn’t have a high block fence around it. We usually have those kinds of fences for both privacy and fire control, but he lives in an older neighborhood. I was worried about whether his hale bale stacks would be enough protection for his archery. Even a target arrow can do damage, and he’s not using a kid’s bow. But, it turns out that his neighbor isn’t nervous at all. When the old man next door saw my friend setting up his archery equipment, he insisted that he wanted to try it himself, and he can actually handle a much more powerful bow than my friend.
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Of course your kids roam around with bow and arrow Morley! How else can you demonstrate your elvish prowess and fight orcs?? Living in Rivendell, bows are a must, swords too 🙂
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Agreed!!! As Haldir says, ” We are proud to fight alongside men once more” We are always ready.
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Didn’t Galadriel say,“Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.” Turns out she is talking about your kids Morley! 🙂
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Right now our upper grade students are actually taking archery classes in gym class. Years ago someone donated all the equipment. But the teacher has very strict guidelines and rules and a no tolerance policy. One slip up and you’re done until they move to the next concept. So far, it hasn’t happened that someone has to be removed.
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Maybe Lee thought that since Amanda’s a woman she might be able to talk to the wife better than he could. Obviously the wife is in a highly emotional state and we know how Lee feels about those. I think Lee was rather uncomfortable about going in and had no clue as to how to confront the wife. Amanda can read him like a book though. I love how she handles this. There are several little bits in this episode that, for me, have the Grant/Hepburn feel and this is one of them.
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Love this Valerie! I think if KJ read this comment – she’d be thrilled at that comparison! and .. I agree! I wish she’d stop by and see how much we love all her efforts with SMK!
Okay gotta sign out of my browser here so I can get some work done! (smk is far more interesting lol! )
byeeee
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Sacker always looks to me like he should be weasel faced man’s father. You all remember the WFM from the Magic Bus ep in S1?
Back for more comment later.
PS. Iwsod, those were the names given in the script I have for this episode.
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You did a great job looking those up!!! thanks Kiwismh!!!!!
who could forget the Weasel faced man?! tee hee..
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Ha close only counts in horseshoes and darts is a saying around a long time because in the game horseshoes and In Darts you can get points by only being close to the pin or bullseye….most other games don’t work like this.
I remember the actor playing Rogan as Fred Savages dad on wonder years so he cracks me up here!
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Yep! We’re a looong way from the Wonder Years here!!!! 🙂
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“Close only counts….” is an old idiom that has been used for a long time. Not sure where it came from but it’s been around for a very long time. Also, that country comb music is called a Jew’s harp, sometimes referred to as a mouth harp or a jaw harp. It does have a unique sound. I’ll be back later to further comment.
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jaw harp?! lol!!!!
I think I’ve stuck to calling it a comb twang.. doingggggg doingggggg!
Thanks for teaching me something new Valerie!
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“You’re right…. I should wait by the car.” BWA HA HA HA HA HA! Oh my heck, KJ cracks me up in this scene. Absolutely brilliant!
(But boo! on Lee — going to send his partner in. Great comeback Amanda!)
I’ve heard the phrase “Close only counts in horseshoes” quite often. I’ve also heard the variation “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” (Maybe that was from MAS*H)
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Close only counts in hand grenades? whahahahaaa!! Sounds like something Fiona from Burn Notice would love 😉 Close only counts in pounds of c-4!
Ohhh wait.. wasn’t there a gag about the ‘close’ idea in Lethal Weapon 3??
[which btw included a picture of Jamie and Phillip as a prop – they were Renee Russo’s characters kid brothers or something!]
what was it?? ‘close is a lingerie shop without a window’.. something like that.. and Mel Gibson’s character looks at her like she’s a bit nuts when she says this!
Is the whole ‘close’ thing a big American thing??!!
Thanks for explaining the whole idiom thing everyone – that one has always gone right over my head (hopefully like a horseshoe would 😉 )
Indeed Cindy boo on Lee for considering sending Amanda in! lol..
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My husband likes to add in “and nuclear weapons” to that saying, too. (Well, it’s true!)
I have to say, the mouth organ/jaw harp adds an air of comedy for me; yes, it’s incredibly hokey, but the whole junior-trailblazer scene is pretty ridiculous too.
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Cindy, I am with you, crack up every time I see this scene- love Amanda’s terrific way of handling Lee. Smart woman!
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