Count Dr. Zernoff has gone to make three teas!
Amanda: Mother….
Dotty: Ah I was wrong about Mr. Doyle. He was early….
…And then I remembered that wonderful nut bread that I made yesterday.
[and I’m your mother you don’t get to tell me what to do! 
]
Amanda: But Mother.
Dotty: Its all right, don’t worry about me. Now Andrei is not shy at all,…
…in fact I offered to show him the sights and we’re going to go this afternoon!
[How sweet is this! I’m all ‘hey don’t tell your mother what to do!’ But Dotty immediately assumes the best of Amanda – and that her bossiness is coming from worrying about her awh!]
Amanda: Mother!
Zernoff returns with his tea for three!
[I guess Dotty and Zernoff organised that while Amanda was walking over from the stakeout?.. so Lee and Francine can have time to prepare for how to manage this]
Zernoff: Ah, here we are ladies…..Amanda your mother has offered to show me your beautiful capital. Who could feel so welcome as I?
Amanda: Oh that’s,..
…that’s very nice of you Mother.
Dotty chuckles and looks pretty pleased with herself.. Dotty gets an exciting afternoon with a Russian, and she managed to overcome Amanda’s worrying about her to meet him and be so ‘nice’ and ‘welcoming’ 
We cut straight to a park.. and it’s time for a baddie catch up! (Amanda has nothing to worry about is still ringing in my ears! how ironic!)
Kurtz: Don’t worry about it, it’s nothing I can’t handle.
[According to the script- this guy’s name is Kurtz- the guy who was about to shoot at Jerry in the opening scene]
Lawrence: A leak??? Why didn’t you tell me about this before now?? We better shut down.
[Oh dear.. 12 minutes in and we already have confirmation Lawrence is a baddie! smk doesn’t muck around! Oh and this is funny! Lawrence is the government leak and he’s worried about a leak? rofl! the leak has a leak!! ]
Kurtz:We’ll shut down when I say so. The leak is our concern.
Lawrence: Kurtz I won’t take your money.
Kurtz: Zernoff is the most important of the four, so don’t even think about quitting.
Lawrence: Don’t you even …..
The grey haired man behind them butts in..
Grey haired Man: No more arguing. Don’t you have enough at stake here? Now the data we can get from Zernoff on the new alloys is vital to our analysis of the latest Russian designs. You stay on that.
Lawrence: Yes Sir.
[Phew. this grey haired guy is the boss!]
Man: Kurtz, I want you to concentrate on some very important unfinished business. You missed Jerry
Dunlap the last time,…
…If we don’t silence him before he makes contact with the Agency again the three of us are going to have a lot more to worry about than we do now.
Grey haired man dishes out the orders and leaves with Kurtz trailing after him.
Love how the scene finishes with the carnival music kicking in.. this is no carnival- these baddies mean business!
Back to the stakeout.. Amanda returns to find out what’s the plan now.
The first thing Amanda says as she comes through the door? Amanda: I’m sorry!
Lee: It’s okay. (He doesn’t seem upset.. that’s good!)
We find Lee is doing something to the recording machine.. Francine gives Lee a look at hearing this.
[Maybe a bit of- oh boy.. ‘you’re more generous toward Amanda than I would have been!’ I wonder what she makes of that??!!]
Lee finishes with the machine and turns back to Amanda rubbing his hands together.
[Interesting.. he mirrors what Amanda was doing – she was rubbing her hands together too]
Amanda: My mother’s going to spend the rest of the day with him.
[Um they already know this..they heard.. maybe this is a ‘what are we gonna do?!’ statement.]
[check out the body language in this shot- Lee and Amanda mirroring each other.. I think these little touches are picked up on subconsciously by the audience as we watch the show – and we sense Lee and Amanda’s connection
Francine in the middle taking it all in.. or at least, trying to – she can see some strange things going on here! ]
Lee: We are also going to spend the afternoon with him…
…We’re going to give you a listening device, you can slip it into your mother’s purse.
[Lee seems casual here.. I think he knows this is going to be difficult for Amanda and so he tries to downplay it’s significance – asking Amanda to put a bug in her mum’s purse?!!!! he even calls it a ‘listening device’ rather than a bug! but I think he is trying to help Amanda here and be supportive – what do you think? ]
Amanda: Wait a minute! I’m not going to put a listening device in my mother’s purse! That is a bug. And you’ve asked me to do some pretty crazy things…
[I think someone needs to write a script of Francine’s thoughts while listening to this exchange- very informative! Anyone?]
Lee is very patient and respectful with Amanda here – old Lee would have been angry- Amanda is the reason her mother is involved and now she won’t plant the bug? but Lee is still patient with her
What would Francine make of this change???!!!!
Lee reacts to Amanda’s remark..
Like he’s thinking back to all the crazy things they’ve done?
He winds up smiling though
Lee: This isn’t so different Amanda..
Amanda: This is my mother!
Lee: Amanda this is the only way we can stop them, short of yanking Zernoff off the street…
…Now this way I will be right behind them the whole time…
…It’s for their own good believe me…
(we cut back to Amanda reacting)
…You can go along if you want.
Amanda looks at Francine.
Then back at Lee..
[I think Lee also recognises that Amanda is worried for Dotty – Just like Dotty thought Amanda was they know she cares it’s very sweet.. especially when this could have turned into a whole ‘you want to be a spy you’ve got to toughen up’ kinda thing.]
Lee raises his hand to wordlessly ask- well? what’s it gonna be Amanda? Shall we?
[I like too that Lee doesn’t seem to rush Amanda here]
Amanda shrugs..
pauses a moment and then not meeting their eyes she asks: Okay, where’s the bug.
Lee immediately starts to smile a little – dimple alert!!
That’s my Amanda!
Francine looks visibly relieved – maybe she didn’t think Amanda would do it.. she is always underestimating her!
[Check out Lee’s pose.. hooo haaaaa.. with those dimples?]
Amanda isn’t thrilled with it though..but she’s going to have to suck it up- it is best for everyone.
I love that Amanda doesn’t just agree to whatever Lee wants.. she is not in awe of him.. no matter how swoony he is! She loves her mother.. and that is important!
Lee turns away grinning from ear to ear that Amanda has agreed- I think he realises this is a really big deal for Amanda.. and he’s proud of her.. and relieved!
Francine looks up at Lee – like phew! she actually said yes.. I think there’s a little – ‘you were right Lee’ in this. Lee could have championed that Amanda would see the sense in this, though she wouldn’t like it. He knows her well – better than Francine!- and he knew how best to approach her about it.
I can imagine Lee saying – stay out of this Francine and let me talk to Amanda (protecting Amanda in this tough moment from Francine but also supporting Amanda to make this tough decision). Francine would have been thinking – this is never going to work she won’t do it! But let’s see Lee get it wrong – he shouldn’t have such faith in Amanda!!!
Francine was proven wrong.. and Lee IMHO is very proud of Amanda here at the end of this scene
Lee finishes doing something to the machine.. Amanda stands by stoically waiting.. maybe preparing herself for what she’ll need to do.. and the scene ends here.
I think this is a huge scene – for all three characters! What do you make of it all everyone? I guess I’ve written a little script of what Francine could have been thinking leading up to this moment – anyone want to write one for what she thinks and sees throughout this scene? what an eye opening exchange between Lee and Amanda.. so much trust and respect and growth is on display here – in front of Francine!!!!
Okay gotta run- hope you are all well!!
Thanks sooo much for stopping by and reading.. and for sharing your thoughts with us all as we continue on our walk together (if you choose to comment)
-byeee for now.
"Just walk with me.." 
Haha…I think Lee and Francine did some quick planning about the bug in Dotty’s purse while Amanda was having her tea with Andrei and Dotty. And I think Lee did some thinking out loud to Francine about Amanda’s reaction to putting the bug in her mother’s purse. I think they both knew Amanda wouldn’t like the idea, but that she’d eventually go along with it. When has she ever really turned Lee down? Has she ever? Maybe just the one time with only partly undressing the security guard in CBAHome.
I think that Francine does have some modicum of respect for Amanda based on LOTParty, but would never admit it. I’m guessing she made some joke or comment about Amanda refusing to put the bug in her mother’s purse, but in reality probably figured Amanda would do it – in the name of national security or something. I think Francine figured Lee could talk her into it somehow.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m so glad other folks have insightful things to share, because I have been rendered speechless and thoughtless by those gorgeous screencaps of Lee! Nice job (as always), Iwsod!
LikeLiked by 4 people
He does look particularly good here, doesn’t he??? Lovin’ that dimple at the end! Future stat shot for sure 🙂
LikeLike
I couldn’t do the mental gymnastics to figure out the kind of leak even on my most limber days. And I like Khell’s take on the conversation that Lee and Francine have before Amanda shows up. I think Iwsod has Francine’s ideas as she watches Lee and Amanda’s exchange down perfectly. I think Lee has become a student of Amanda King, what I mean is that he has paid close attention to her and how she thinks and feels about things. I think that is part of loving a person, to become a student of theirs. And, yet, he is still the teacher. Here begins Lee’s process of learning how to be the Senior agent to the woman he is falling in love with. When you’re talking about love you have to be patient. I also like the way he is just honest with Amanda. It don’t think he put any spin on how he handled Amanda’s reticence to do this. He just told her like it is while at the same time acknowledging her objections to it.
I wonder what came to his mind when Amanda mentioned that he had asked her to do crazy things? Wearing his engagement ring, pretending to be Mr and Mrs Stetson for a weekend, kissing her through a window at a training camp?
LikeLiked by 3 people
I mentioned the patience thing in response to Kiwismh, before I read your comment and agree with you so much. I love what you say about Lee learning how to be the Senior agent to the woman he’s falling in love with…so awesome! Actually, I love all of your comment.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very swoony stuff Morley! 🙂
ha! love it – yes I spent quite a bit of time picking those images of Lee pondering Amanda’s remark about how she’s been asked to do some pretty crazy things 😉
Yes I agree, Lee is being more mature, and treating Amanda like she is mature too – no more playing games – he’s being honest and straight with her 🙂
Such huge changes in Lee.. made me wonder what Francine would be making of all this? I guess.. what’s on display here could further spur on her actions in FFFT.. or… maybe she just sees this after.. not sure. but it’s fun to play with the idea.
LikeLike
The last time there was a bug in someone’s purse was in the JEHFiles. That recent memory must make Amanda cringe even more at the thought of planting a bug in her mother’s purse. Lee probably remembers this too and I think his look at the end is partly admiration of Amanda’s professionalism and commitment to the case in spite of the personally distasteful matter of having to plant a bug on her mother.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was thinking the same thing and about how Agnes reacted. Amanda told Lee he had to be patient and he is most certainly doing so now.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dotty is dressed rather differently from her usual style – the pearls and heavily ‘set’ hair seem a bit out of character. She definitely trying to portray herself as a ‘lady’ here. I prefer her in her Dotty jumper.
And I like the colours on Francine. And how Lee shows such patience and understanding with Amanda, when I’m sure he must have been rather irritated by her scruples.
LikeLike
Agree with your fashion comments Learjet. Francine’s outfit is very nice and that colour really does suit her.
LikeLike
Interesting observation here Learjet! The pearls do seem to come out when she wants to make a good ‘lofty’ impression! did she wear them when Dean’s mother came for tea?! 🙂
Agree with you and kIwismh – that burgundy colour is gorgeous on Francine. They seem to have toned down her crazy fashions lately no?
LikeLike
The colour is nice on Francine, agree. But I somehow don’t like the style. I dunno. To me it kinda looks like she’s trying to pass for being ten years older or so?
LikeLike
I think she’s going for “serious, business-like intelligence agent” rather than “fashion queen” here. I’ve got an idea that she is supposed to be a couple of years younger than Amanda. Have we actually heard that or does the idea come from fanfic? The lines sometimes blur for me…. 😀
LikeLike
good call learjet.. this is no time to play dress ups 😉
I have never heard that Francine is younger than Amanda.. at least not so far in the walk – if it’s ahead I wouldn’t remember.
She didn’t say her age in LOTP did she?
I’m guessing it’s a fanfic source but I can’t be certain.
LikeLike
Martha Smith is younger than Kate Jackson. Maybe that’s it.
LikeLike
Well, from how she avoids to say her age in LOTP and how she starts very hesitantly with “twenty- …” my guess is that maybe she just turned 30 recently and is still kinda like “gosh, I can’t be THAT old, yet!” Just going from how I felt when I turned 30 … So my idea always has been that maybe Francine’s really a few years younger than Amanda – not much, though, maybe two or three or so.
Personally, I made Francine two years younger than Martha Smith, setting her birth year in 1954 and her zodiac as Scorpio (which would set her birthday some time in late October or November). But that’s just me because (after discussing it a lot with a fellow fanfic writer) Scorpio really is THE perfect zodiac sign for Francine and also because 1954 as her birth year would make Francine a Horse in Chinese zodiac, which is also a sign that fits her personality quite well.
LikeLike
All the scorpio stuff goes right over my head.. but I couldn’t help but think: surely Francine was born in the year of the COW!!!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, there IS a year of the Ox in Chinese zodiac … 😉
LikeLike
Ox? yeah that will do! 🙂
LikeLike
ROFLMBO!!! So glad I waited to make my cup of tea this afternoon!!!! Or I would have been the one to post that I’m in need of a new computer again…
LikeLike
All this talk about Francine’s and Dotty’s attire made me think of what Lee was wearing, because frankly, why wouldn’t you think of what Lee is wearing? But I digress. I notice that Lee seems to have decided to dress in something that he would think is more fitting of the suburbs. Francine is sticking with the Blue Fox mentality and is dressed professionally, but it’s a stakeout and time to ease up a bit and relax. Lee is figuring that out and restrained himself from throwing on a suit. Is this a possible sign that he is more relaxed with what is going on within himself at this moment? That Scarecrow facade is disappearing more and more. We are seeing him in jeans more often. He would fit in a bit better should someone else happen to show up unannounced.
LikeLiked by 2 people
LOL – true, valeriejw! Why wouldn’t you think of what Lee is wearing? Actually, all I notice him wearing in this scene is that dimple at the end 🙂 I do like those jeans though.
LikeLike
I’m kind of curious about what Lee and Francine talked about before Amanda came back to talk to them. Since they were listening the entire time, they must have also been talking the situation over. I can see that Francine would be rolling her eyes about how Dotty managed to get involved with the guy they’re supposed to watch, with maybe a comment about how getting into trouble seems to run in the family. Then, Lee would probably point out that they can use this situation to their advantage, suggesting the idea of planting a listening device on Dotty so they can keep tabs on them no matter where they go. It’s like Emily pointing out how they could use Amanda to their advantage when she unknowingly talks to the guy they’re supposed to watch in Three Faces of Emily. Lee has learned to improvise! 😀
I think the reason why Francine is silent throughout the exchange between Lee and Amanda is because she knows what Lee is going to try to get Amanda to do and that Amanda will probably need some persuading and that Lee is more likely to successfully persuade her to do what they need her to do.
LikeLiked by 4 people
Francine probably can’t trust herself to speak without getting snarky so she takes the wise course and shuts up!
LikeLike
Which, as we all know, she hasn’t always done in the past – obviously she’s capable of learning. 😉
I can imagine something like:
Lee: We can actually use this to our advantage. We’ll ask Amanda to place a bug in her mother’s purse – so we still can monitor those two.
Francine: Well, it’s a good idea but do you think Amanda will agree to it? I mean, not that I’d blame her for saying no – I certainly wouldn’t want to place a bug in my mother’s purse, either. shudder and murmurs I do NOT want to know what that woman’s up to all day long …
Lee: Just leave it to me, okay?
Uh-oh – do I see another short fanfic in the not-so-far future? XD
LikeLiked by 2 people
I leave this one to you. 😉 You’re the expert with Francine’s voice. 🙂
LikeLike
Yes I think it was a mutual decision!
Lee wanted Francine to stay out of it.. and Francine also thought it was wisest for her to stay out of it 😉
LikeLike
“rofl! the leak has a leak!!”
So does that make it a faster leak or a slower leak? 😀
LikeLike
Ouch! My poor little brain can’t wrap itself around that one.
LikeLike
No idea.. agree with Cindy..that’s a real brain strain! What do you think KC?
I would say it’s a leaky leak though 🙂
LikeLike
That’s TWO leaks, whahahaha [lightning strike].
LikeLike
lol! 😀
LikeLike
Well – if Lawrence is the government leak, is the other leak back to the government? Then it’s a slower leak. If the leak is the other way, then it’s a fast leak. (I’m not sure if I’m making sense 😀 )
LikeLike
You are making sense, Learjet. 🙂 You’re thinking exactly what I was thinking (though it’s more fun to think of it as a water leak)…
LikeLike