So Lee and Amanda follow Zorbel from the bank..
I’ve been meaning to mention.. this little transition shot in smk:
We see it all the time.. and it took me ages to realise that it is actually shot through a wire fence of some kind and you can see the wires in it! whahahahaaha.. Very high tech! Harder to see the wires when you don’t slow it down though..
Zorbel leads Lee and Amanda to the evil high rise.. Although… that high rise looks different to the high rise we saw Canaan talking from earlier.. is the same office in this building?
Oh wait.. I can see juuust in the bottom right corner the start of ‘broadway plaza’ so this is actually the same location, but it is a different side of the building so looks different! lol!! confusing!
I guess we weren’t suppose to pay much attention to evil high rise buildings anyway..
Broadway plaza has become trans-mercantile tower (related to trans-oceanic?! 
)
Zorbel uses an evil key in the evil elevator to gain access to the evil cyclops offices..
[With an organisation called ‘Cyclops’ you would think SMK would throw another one of those ‘I have my EYE on you’ gags!!! Remember it from Remembrance of things past?? (see the comments if you don’t remember this) ]
It seems a bit errr dark in this elevator no?
Down in the foyer, Lee and Amanda watch the elevator lights to determine where he has gone.. it seems to be different to what we saw inside the elevator.
Lee: Okay, penthouse. The easiest trick to lose a tail is to punch a lot of buttons in an elevator. Let’s see if it stops on the way down. If not, I’ll go up, you watch the lobby that way he can’t get by us.
[teamwork!!] Amanda nods.
Amanda: Right.
We leave Lee and Amanda waiting for the elevator lights to stop and cut to Zorbel arriving at the Cyclops boardroom.. Daisy is watching the monitors in the background while Canaan meets with Zorbel.
Is it just me or does Zorbel do something funny with his arms/hands when he walks?!
Zorbel: Some unexpected business at the bank detained me. I apologize.
Charles Canaan: Why did you kill Aghaney?
[thanks for finding out his name is Charles BJo- why does it amuse me that he’s a chuck?!]
Zorbel: He left me no choice. He broke into my place and he took my notes on yesterday’s test. He could have figured it all out from them.
Canaan: And you left the notes lying around where he could find them.
[yep! but.. he did have a camera to capture this milestone! ]
Zorbel: I’ve been involved in this project for months. Security has been…adequate. If I made any mistake it was underestimating Aghaney.
[Oh boy.. ‘adequate’- this dude’s going to die the moment they don’t need him! haaaa –what I want to know is – where is the laser briefcase? I can see his secretary opening it back at the bank and taking out the real auditors! whahahaa!! ]
Canaan: And I overestimated you.
(Canaan coolly points at ‘impetuous’ Zorbel, while Zorbel takes a huge gulp.. uh oh..)
We cut to an elevator door opening and out walks Lee Stetson (Diiiinggg doooonggg!! )
He is greeted by a sales lady – I guess this is Lee going all the way up because the elevator didn’t stop?
Woman: Good afternoon. Were you looking for an entire suite or just a cosy little office?
Lee: Well actually, I’m interested in the penthouse.
Woman: This is the penthouse.
Lee: Ah, well um, what about my associate who was ahead me about two minutes ago? Is he here?
Woman: Sorry, but you’re the first person I’ve seen all day.
Lee: Oh. [Uh oh!!! sooo they really have no idea where Zorbel is in the building.. ]
Woman: Let me show you one of our spacious suites. It can be furnished in any style: contemporary, traditional.
Lee isn’t really listening to her.. he’s too busy processing what could be going here.. 
He glances back at the elevator light.. seems Zorbel has slipped into another dimension!
We cut from Lee to Lee on a monitor..
(nice editing.. Lee is even still turned looking at the elevator light!) The monitor is in the Cyclops boardroom- Daisy sees Lee..
Daisy: Mr. Canaan, I think you should see this.
(why does Daisy think that?! She wasn’t at the bank.. She doesn’t know Lee was at the bank?! I love that her name is Daisy – thanks for looking that up BJo! genius!!)
Zorbel: He told me he was a federal bank auditor.
Canaan: Your doctored books couldn’t have been that convincing.
Zorbel: It’s a fishing expedition, that’s all… [lol ironically Zorbel is correct here!]
…A satellite crime like ours has never been dreamed of before. You don’t imagine that he’s going to figure it out, do you?
[whoo so high tech for the 80s!]
Daisy: Aghaney came close.
Zorbel: He was looking at the bare outline, that’s all. Nothing more…
[rofl.. Zorbel is digging a deeper hole for himself – a second ago Aghaney knew too much or was coming close to figuring it out and had to be killed.. now he knew hardly anything! haaa!]
…Have faith. [why should he?!]
Canaan: I hired you to steal a billion dollars…
[Can I just say- how do you ‘hire’ someone to steal a billion dollars?? I mean.. if they could steal a billion dollars, why would they need someone to be hired by anyone? ever? … I guess 
he might need their resources to pull it off – but still.. wouldn’t the guy who can steal the billion hire the others to help?? seems the other way around here.. hmmm..I don’t know! I think too 
much!]
…I want more than faith. I’m going to call a full Cyclops meeting. If they agree I’ll bring the schedule forward to tomorrow.
Daisy: What about him? (Zorbel)
Canaan: You set the tone, Zorbel. You brought him down on our heads. If he (Lee) gets any closer, I’ll expect you to deal with him decisively. (Uh oh.. Lee’s going to get laser tasered?! beware of briefcases Lee!! Pencil pushers are super dangerous!)
Zorbel: Yes, sir.
Canaan: And I think I’ll send Daisy along to guarantee it.
Love Daisy’s smile at hearing this.. oohhh goodie! I’m going to get some action!! [A little reminiscent of Fi on burn notice! Except Fi is a goodie!!]
Back to Amanda in the evil Foyer.. she’s on a public phone talking to her mother..
Amanda: Mother, You know I know he’s been rehearsing for a month. I made his costume.
Dotty (on the phone): Amanda, you know your son will be disappointed if you don’t make the play. [Anyone else want to slap Dotty?! think Jamie will get over it! She did make his costume.. she is a single mother and she’s been to lots of other things. perspective please!!! ]
‘your son’ I’m surprised Dotty remembers this fact!!! anyone else feel Amanda is rather annoyed and frustrated with her mother here?! I know I am!!!
Amanda: Uh, yeah, no mother, there’s no way I’m going to miss seeing Jamie play Rip Van Winkle.
Dotty: I wouldn’t want you to miss that.
Ding!!! Lee arrives off the elevator and re-joins Amanda.. she tries to get off the phone..
Amanda: Really, mother look, I’ve got to go, okay?
Dotty: Promise me?
Amanda: Yes, I’m going to work late tonight and then I won’t have to work late tomorrow night.
Dotty: Are you sure you’re going to be there?
[I want to slap Dotty.. she is truly irritating and nagging.. of course Amanda loves her kids and knows it’s important.. Let Amanda breathe for heaven’s sake! coming on the heels of her suffocating rambling at the end of Utopia now I find this even more irritating.. you guys might not mind it. but I really wanted Amanda to tell her mother to back off!]
Amanda: Right.
Dotty: Anyway –
Amanda: Okay
Dotty: …driving over there…
Amanda: Okay…alright –
[Lee gives Amanda a nod.. a come on!!! and he can see Amanda is trying to get off.. ugh!]
Dotty: Now just tell me honestly that you’re going to be there, okay?
Amanda- hang up on her!!
Amanda: Yes, mother.
Dotty: Say it.
[she did already 10 times.. and you know what? if she doesn’t make it – it will not be the end of the world.. her kids know they are loved.. it’s one flipping play ugh!]
Amanda: Okay, bye bye.
Amanda really does end up having to hang up 
on her..before Dotty can say another word! (now that’s difficult!) how irritating!!!
Where is the story going with this Dotty/ the play subplot? Is this increased nagging by Dotty a result of Amanda’s going missing in Utopia Now? I don’t know.. I’ll figure it out as we go along.. with your help!!
I don’t have a set idea of where the episode is going or what it’s themes are or anything –I notice running themes as I go and I mention them.. they may wind up meaning something.. or not!
This post is getting long. I’ll stop here and pick up at the same place in the next post.. looking forward to hearing your views on this part of the episode.. or the episode so far..
hey so far- is there any chance this is before Utopia Now?? Or before Sour Grapes? I am tossing around the idea it’s before Sour Grapes, but after Utopia Now.. I’ll keep this in mind as i continue to walk through this episode.. not sure exactly what’s ahead.. okay bye for now! Can’t wait to hear from ya! byeeee!!
"Just walk with me.." 
I really enjoy watching the way Lee and Amanda work together in this episode. I like the way he is explaining things to her. It doesn’t sound like a teacher explaining things to a student, here it carries that respect that he learned in UN. Amanda had the right tools and some skills that he needed then and here he has some skills and knowledge that he can share with her.
That conversation with Dotty is interesting. I don’t think we have heard Dotty that anxious about Amanda’s commitment to the kids before. I think Buck’s comments in UN got stuck in Dotty’s mind and are festering. I do think she is suspicious about these new changes she has seen in her daughter. Dotty liked Dean because he was dependable. I think in her mind she wanted things to go a certain way for her daughter. This she can’t understand. Of course it is of no help to her that Amanda can’t tell her anything. I do think that this conversation is showing us that Amanda’s role with the Agency is more than just a hobby, or a part time thing. It is a real part of who she is and how she is spending large chunks of her time.
Iwsod, you brought up episode order, so I will just mention that I like the way this episode builds on that new vibe we got in SG. Remember how Lee would rush to open the car door for Amanda and she would grab the keys for him. They were acting like a couple on a first date in that episode, kind of excited and awkward at the same time. Here they seem a bit more comfortable with something new between them, but still learning what the newness is really going to be like. I guess we will be able to tell more as the episode goes on.
LikeLike
I’m totally enjoying how Lee is really getting into training Amanda here about losing someone in an elevator. He seems much more open and interested in really training her whenever he gets a chance and not just because she needs it for a particular assignment. He’s really on board with this! He sees the potential in Amanda that Billy and we see! What a gal! You’ve got real potential! Do you think that damn duck is still stuck somewhere in the recesses of Lee’s brain? LOL!
Daisy? Is it just me or is that a very odd name for this woman baddie? Especially with all the Greek connections. Surely the writers could have come up with something a little better. She doesn’t look at all like a Daisy. Why do you like it, iwsod? And I have no idea why it amuses you that Mr. Cyclops is a Chuck!?! Hahaha…notice the ‘s’ switch for a ‘z’ in cosy! I didn’t think about that when I was transcribing!
Ahhh, I must agree to disagree on something here. I am glad of this phone scene with Amanda and Dotty. I think this is maybe the first time we’ve really seen or heard this type of exchange for this length from Amanda and Dotty? As Amanda has grown professionally, she’s been doing more and more at work. She works odd hours and isn’t able to give her family much information. This exchange between these two is very realistic to me and shows Amanda’s professional growth and Dotty’s reaction to it. Despite what we see of Dotty, she isn’t stupid and she notices when Amanda is home, when she isn’t and what Dotty needs to help her with. I always thought Dotty let Amanda off the hook too easily, so I’m glad to hear a bit of disapproval in her tone. Hope that doesn’t make me too much of a bad guy!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Agreed! Great to see Lee accepting Amanda as a spy – he’s known she could be a good spy since he admitted it back in Service Above and beyond remember??!!!
But because of the danger – he fought accepting this for a very long time. Poor Lee!!! He had a lot of mental activity going on when it comes to Amanda 🙂 sheesh!
I love Daisy as the baddie’s name.. yes it’s weird – it’s ironic and funny! 🙂 she’s fresh as a daisy! She’s pure and delicate.. no? 😉
Autocorrect fixed the z to an s.. sorry sometimes my aussie English settings alter things 🙂 I am use to both English spelling and American spelling most of the time so it doesn’t bother me.
Okay BJo – I like your thoughts on the Dotty/Amanda phone call – I think I didn’t say if I like that we saw this phone conversation taking place – I was mostly commenting on how annoying I found Dotty – but I haven’t looked at the wider context of it yet because it’s early on in the episode and I don’t want to jump ahead (I think it has some great things to add to the story too even if I find Dotty annoying – but don’t make me say anymore!!! 😉 tee hee) I see Cindy and 2Golden have also noted some wider issues that could be starting to be dealt with more head on in the show.. but I’ll come back to this- and if I don’t heck please remind me!!
Oiii!! Expressing an opinion that may be different to others never makes someone a ‘bad guy’!! If shared respectfully and constructively – any view is welcome. I think I’m the bad guy cos I have to tell people to stop jumping ahead.. ( ‘I feel just awful when I have to scold the boys’.. oh wait.. umm that’s not quite right.. tee hee!)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Brand’s suitcase has nothing on Zorbel’s! Daisy reminds me of the baddie female in the Times are a changing! She may be up for one of the top baddies in season 3!
LikeLike
I find it really amusing that they named this character “Daisy”.
LikeLike
Agree, I love the irony of the name Daisy! And yep, she reminds me too of that Times baddie — Helga, was it?
I’ve not read all the comments yet so I apologize if I am repeating what has already been said here but I see the Dotty/Amanda discussion as a view into the very major issue that has been an SMK theme right from the first episode — women stepping out into the work force and becoming serious career women, and all the tough conversations and decisions and sacrifices that they have to make as they try to balance personal with professional. Dotty represents the skeptics who felt a woman could dabble in outside interests but her real place was in the home. Personal experience says that failure to be at every special event encouraged the skeptics and was very guilt-inducing for the mom. I was lucky to have a flexible job with flexible management as I’m not sure I could have handled much of that guilt. Plus seeing the kids in stuff like that is as special to the mom as to the kid! All that aside, Dotty was very annoying in that conversation. But it’s not the first time I’ve felt Amanda should be annoyed with Dotty!
LikeLike
Oops, sorry, I see this was already discussed earlier! So much for fresh new insights 🙂
LikeLike
At first I thought it odd that Amanda was on the phone with her mother when she was suppose to be watching the lobby, but then I figured it was a better cover than her just standing around doing nothing. I didn’t remember Dotty being that annoying on the phone, seeing it written out she is with going on and on about the same thing like Amanda is a 10 year old. Maybe Dotty’s nervous that Amanda might leave under the pressure of raising the boys and having to work, like Buck said in UN.
I think it’s sweet when Lee returns to find her on the phone and he doesn’t seem really surprised or annoyed that she’s checking in with her family. Although he is ready to go he’s so much more patient with her these days.
What would Amanda had done if Zorbel had come through and left without her knowing where Lee was ? Would she had hung up on her mom to follow him? Would she had stayed put and just told Lee that he had left?
LikeLike
Does anyone else think Zorbel’s hair colour looks all wrong? From a bottle I think?
It’s quite interesting to note Amanda’s exchange with Dotty. Dotty’s irritating pushing aside, maybe they’re trying to show us how Amanda’s life has opened up – she’s no longer the housewife from Arlington whose life revolves around bringing up her boys. She is also a developing intelligence agent, even if theoretically she is still a civilian auxillary (hate that ‘title’ 😦 ). And sometimes she doesn’t want to be disturbed by things at home. Her reaction to Dotty here (IMHO) marks a departure from her usual reaction to home matters – she is irritated by Dotty and wants to focus on the case, rather than being ready to drop everything and rush home.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I agree learjet – on the hair and Dotty. I think their conversation shows Amanda’s growth – personally and professionally, so it’s realistic and nice to see!
LikeLike
Yes Dotty is laying on the guilt super thick here (Boo! But maybe Amanda just assuming Dotty can look after the boys is starting to wear thin and put a serious cramp in Dotty’s love life ;-)) .
I always assumed the powers that be were trying to emphasize how women who work are pulled between their families and their career.
LikeLike
Cindy, I agree about the writers trying to show Amanda’s growing struggle between career and family. This is a topic that the primarily female following of mid-80’s SMK could have related to quite well. (And, sadly, not much has changed on that front in the last 30 years.) Kudos to Lee for not making it even harder for her through his impatience to get on with a case. He’s becoming one enlightened man, isn’t he?
Is there a Like button for the Like button? 😉
LikeLike
I agree with Cindy and 2 Golden.. I’ll come back to this later in the episode when things have transpired a bit more..
Enlightened Lee is mighty fine!!
rofl.. you can like the comment where I mentioned I’d added the like button I guess 2 Golden – glad you ‘like’ it! 😉
LikeLike
rofl thanks Learjet.. I just hope I will still hear from you guys just as much when there is an easy like button to press.. eek!!
The conversation is the ❤ of this blog.. so I'm going to see how things go.. 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
We ❤ your blog, iwsod; we don't just 'like' you…
LikeLiked by 2 people
Since I apparently can’t “Like” without a WordPress account, I’ll just say “ditto” to learjet5.
LikeLike
Oh boooo well.. they are very easy to get and free.. if you wanted to sign up.. not that you have to.. but lots of us have.. I think this is it (if you are interested) https://signup.wordpress.com/signup/
LikeLike
Hope people still comment too because I like reading them, but a like button will be nice too because there are times when you like some’s comment and you don’t have any insight to add so a like button will let them know you agree 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
There’s lots of times I want to like something but don’t have the time or the brain to type out a comment. I will try to reserve the “like” button for those occasions, not use it to replace commenting!!
LikeLike
oh thanks Happy camper – and thanks also to Melissa. Your comments reassure me!
I agree why not make it easy for people to quickly like something..
I want to keep the feature and I know you guys like it and it is useful..
but I don’t want to lose the ❤ of the blog.. so this is a bit of an experiment you might say !! 🙂
Hopefully we'll (or maybe it's just 'I'll') get use to it having a place eventually..
LikeLike
Teee heeee!! Lets see how long it takes you eagle eyed SMK fans to spot the new feature I just discovered.. hope you ‘like’ it!!!! 😉
LikeLiked by 5 people