How are we all going?
This ep seems to have inspired less discussion..
I do hope my write up is not reducing the level of enjoyment you’ve had for this ep.
I would pick up the pace when there is not much discussion but I simply don’t have the time to keep up with writing the posts now – but.. I cannot wait for the next episode!!!
Bad iwsod!! focus on this one! we’re not there yet!! Maybe there are more gems to discover yet here:)
okay.. pep talk over.. and.. on with the episode!
We find the fab four walking down the agency corridor..
Billy: I left orders with Dr. Pfaff to tape every word that Rupert mutters.
Lee: He could babble for a week without saying anything. I’ve got a feeling we don’t have that much time.
[An interesting angle here on the four of them as they walk, we don’t see this often.. do we? do you like it?]
Billy: I’m afraid you’re right. Amanda, get back over to Birchwood and pick their brains about code Pyramid, and we don’t need information about florescent bulbs.
[lol! now you’re talkin! Billy gets tough!]
Amanda: Yes, sir.
Billy: Francine, get on the horn to that clown at Seaforth,
[At this moment we see Lee and Amanda exchange a little private nod goodbye.. and Lee gives Amanda a little smile as she leaves.. I love to see their silent private communications 
]
…and have him here at the Agency ASAP, with some answers…
[Both Francine and Amanda leave]
…Lee, I’ve got a team waiting for us over at Blue Star Insurance. We’re gonna blow the lid off that place.
Lee: All right.
[whooo hooo! Billy is on fire here! this is the most in command and on the ball I think I’ve seen him! lol! Being ordered out of bed by Lee in the middle of the night to pull files seems to put the fire in him! 🙂
I love how Lee says ‘All right!’ like he’s just been given permission to play by his pappa!]
Call me crazy, but as far as I can see – they have zero evidence that the van that crashed with the blueprint at the start of the episode and gave them the clue about Seaforth, was in any way related to Durran or Code Pyramid – there was just a guess by Billy at one point (in Post 8) that because Durran is in town it must be to do with him! rofl.. Billy is savvy.. he knows how the smk world works 😉 Or maybe I have missed the evidence that actually linked the van to Durran and Code Pyramid? help?
Moving on to Durran and his crew.. they’re loading up two vans..
Durran: Come on, move it. I want to be through that wall by shift change.
We see them loading the G-S Gas into a container.. lots of G-S Gas! uh oh.. these guys are seriously bad!! whooo (yawn).
On to Blue Star Medical Insurance..
Billy: Jackson, take the side door. Smith, Allen, seal the back. Nobody in or out. Let’s move it, people.
Wow.. six cars.. Billy wasn’t kidding.
Lee: We understand that your company provided health insurance for an Agency project in 1962.
[You mean, they use an insurance company for a project and then move on to another? Is this a bit weird? what am I saying? this whole show is weird 😉 ]
Mrs. Dell: Yes, well, it’s been a while. And we handle numerous government contracts. But I’m sure Mr. Atkins could fill you in. He’s our senior account executive… [ohhhhhhh!!!] …He probably handled those contracts. He did most of them in the 60’s. Well, his office is that way. Right this way. I can assure you that everything is in order. Blue Star has always stood for the highest degree of professionalism and integrity. Leo?
[She goes to open Leo’s office door..]
Billy leads the lady away..
Billy: Mrs. Dell, just try to be calm.
Lee heads into the office for a closer look. A high tech closer look from the sounds of it. He checks his pulse.
He sees a note on Leo’s desk.
No idea what it means (let’s ask TP!)
We see a parking garage exterior..
Then Durran and his crew..
Cue a big close up on Dragon..err I mean Durran blowing cigarette smoke out of his nostrils!! whoooo he’s bad.. he’s really really bad!
As a still shot I think it looks hilarious!
Durran: Everyone in position! Alright, gentlemen, it is now 4:50. I want to be inside precisely at 5:50. Let’s go! [So is that what the note was? the time?]
The drilling of the wall starts..
Back to Blue star insurance.
A close up on Billy’s watch tells us it’s 5 o’clock.
Nice watch Billy 
Billy calls out: Shake a leg, Scarecrow!
Lee: I told Mrs. Dell to have the Metro Homicide boys send their preliminary reports straight to your office. [no women in metro homicide I guess.. meh!] But Billy, we are going to have to give them some official oil about why we left the scene, and about why we copped some evidence.
Billy: Well, protocol is the least of our worries now. We can’t hang around here. And finding Atkin’s killer’s not going to help us, either.
[Wait a minute!!!!.. so Lee is the one worrying about protocol? and Billy is the one saying they can’t worry about that now?! What kind of alternate universe are we dealing with here??!!!It’s like Billy said Lee’s lines and vice versa! I think the script typist got the names wrong for these lines above and no one noticed 😉 tee hee.. ]
Lee: I saw Atkins with Durran. So at least we know how Durran got his list of the Pyramid team.
[this is visually a rather boring scene.. even with Lee in it.. ahem..but KJ has tried to mix it up with some interesting camera angles.. do you guys like it?]
Billy: What kind of a lead is 5:50? Is it a number, a code, a time, and how do we find out? [Ask TP!]
Lee: The only way to find the “Open Sesame” is to crack Rupert, or one of the other oldsters.
Billy: This damn case is aptly named, you know that?
Lee: Yeah.
Billy: What’s the riddle about the pyramids?
(they start walking to their respective cars)
Lee: Aw, you’re thinking about the riddle of the sphinx, uh – what walks on four legs when it’s young, two when it’s grown-
Billy: And three when it’s old.
Lee: You got it.
[I haven’t got it.. like a lot of this episode.. can someone explain this riddle to me?! this whole episode is a bit of a riddle to me ]
I’ll finish here for now.. Looking forward to hearing from you!!!
"Just walk with me.." 
Looooove the look Lee gives Amanda after their sweet little private nod. (I think we get to enjoy the Lee & Amanda moments in this episode differently since KJ directed – both these sweet little moments, or the realistic grumpy to good situation that happened in the Q Bureau earlier.)
But then there’s the creepiest of all creepy close up shots on Durran and the smoke out of his nose. Aaaaaand just like Marlin in Finding Nemo says: “Good feeling’s gone.”
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Oops, I guess I should have finished the episode before commenting as you obviously explained the riddle in the next part. 🙂
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Absolutely no worries! I have done that too many times to count. 🙂
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cindy is spot on Jedediah – keep those thoughts comin! 🙂 it’s all good!
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The riddle of the sphinx… what walks on 4 legs when it’s young, two when it’s grown, and 3 when it’s old? Man (crawls on all 4s as a baby, walks as an adult, uses a walking stick or cane in old age.
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LOL – no, I think you are right iwsod. Billy knows how SMK works. There are no coincidences. And if Amanda finds something, you run with it because it is somehow related and will help you solve the case.
Hahaha – that screen shot of the dragon, I mean Durran, is hysterical! All that’s missing is a bit of red-eye!
I wonder if Lee is worried more about Billy breaking protocol than actually breaking protocol. He doesn’t want Billy to get in trouble. Maybe he’s being “watched” by Dr. Smyth since RFTS….
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Okay – this is irritating…why won’t the photo link work…I’ll keep working on it.
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Thank you, iwsod!
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I love it BJo!!!!! your Durragon is flippin hilarious!!!!!
Can I use that as a side widget?! whahahaaa.. could be great for Halloween next year haaa
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Of course!! It is your screen cap after all!
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Haha! That’s too funny! I’d love to see the expressions of the agency crew, if they saw that Durragon coming toward them. Although Lee’s expression (top of the page, below the S&MK header) might be one possibility.
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Hey Sara – have you guessed what the moment is in the side bar? who Lee is looking at? 🙂
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Yep, I know. 😉
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I like the shot of the four walking down the hallway mostly because Lee and Amanda are walking together in the back where they can have their private eye speak without Billy or Francine noticing. It makes them look even lore like partners.
And I agree with the Duran Dragon look. Yes, Bad, very bad.
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The Pharoah’s (sic) Engineer is “Coming up Next”? ROFL, Iwsod 🙂
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I LOL’d over the “(sic)” myself! Good for you, Iwsod — you know how to spell it even if SMK team can’t!
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haaa thanks Raffie, thanks Learjet… it was the only way I could spell the ep the way I had to and be okay with it. I soooo wanted to correct it! haa!!
I’ll be back to respond more when I can – hope you are all well and love hearing from you all byeee!
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I like that you mention the camera angles that KJ uses here, Iwsod because I think that the reason why this episode has fallen rather flat is that it is a particularly dynamic episode (camera angles, colour, lighting), and of course we don’t see it when breaking it done by screen caps. That should with Durran and the nostril smoke is crying out for a meme. KC??
Loving assertive Billy here. Go Bill 😀 !
I don’t like how dismissive and rude they are about Rupert here. “Ramble” and “babble”?? Don’t like it – the poor guy has been drugged!
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Interesting theory 😉
I’ve said a few things about this in the final post so I’ll hold off till then 🙂
I’ve never clicked with this ep whichever way I watch it – but I will say the Lee/Amanda disagreement in the Q bureau is a real highlight for me. I loved that scene and had totally overlooked it till this walk 🙂
I didn’t take the dismissive attitude as personal – it was because of the drug no? not Rupert’s fault he is loopy and babbling on.. 😉 it’s the night pirate’s fault 🙂
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I agree – I hadn’t remembered the scene in the Q bureau at all- I think it is easily overlooked when watching the episode but obviously not during this walk.
THe missing episode for a few days was confusing to me – kept thinking I may have had some BZ Gas myself 🙂
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Hiya iwsod! Oh nooo! Please don’t think you’re posts for this ep are any less inspiring than the others! I’ve just finished up a course and am getting ready for another BJo binge. I’ve got several posts to catch up on and am looking forward to having that time. I know this ep isn’t a favorite of mine, but there are some definite gems!
And I can’t speak for others, but I know for me in the US, the Thanksgiving holiday is fast approaching, which always sucks up valuable amounts of time. So over here in this part of the world, we are entering the busy season already. Which reminds me – thank you for doing this blog – I am thankful that you do! Gobble gobble!
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Ohhh it is getting close to the end of November isn’t it.. well at least I’ll be walking slowly to the Triumvirate when we get to it so no one need miss out on walking along with us all together 🙂
BJo binge? can’t wait! I love those 😉
Hope you are well BJo – and congrats on getting through another course.. such determination and commitment, Very Amanda qualities 🙂
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Hmmm, I think it’s the episode that’s uninspiring, not your transcript Iwsod. Never mind, we shall persevere in trying to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. 🙂
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I’ve always loved that expression — so nice to see it’s globally known! And well applied here as I continue to enjoy finding the nuggets — which just happen to be better hidden along this stretch of the walk.
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😀 😀 😀
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I haven’t read the full post nor the comments yet, but Iwsod, your first couple sentences, one in particular, made me giggle. You wrote, “I do hope my write up is not reducing the level of enjoyment you’ve had for this ep.” and it reminded me of David in The Mole saying to Amanda something to the effect of “I hope this confession [of being a freeloading party-crasher] has not lowered your opinion of me,” to which Amanda rapidly and honestly responds, “Oh, no, it doesn’t!”, because she already has a pretty low opinion of him! So without meaning to sound too snide or snarky, you have not reduced my level of enjoyment that I’ve had for this ep. 🙂 However, as I raise my gaze beyond the pyramid that we are crossing over, I do believe I see beautiful scenery ahead! 😉 .. sorta like this grey dark winter we are entering here in NY, where the stark grey trees make the sunsets look even more magnificent! (Sorry, feeling poetic today I guess.)
Now back to the regularly scheduled programming!
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Oh,haha, Iwsod, I just got to your next sentence and see I am not the only one checking out the scenery down the road! (Reading this post is going very slowly for me!)
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LOL yep! I don’t remember details of waht’s ahead.. I just have a really warm fuzzy feeling and can’t wait to see it all unfold 🙂
I think TPE will make me enjoy any good stuff that’s coming even more 🙂
PFK and TPE in a row has been not as naturally easy to enjoy for me- I really enjoyed discovering PFK and now I’m discovering TPE.. two eps I don’t think I ever watched more than once – so it’s good to walk through them. at the same time, I won’t be anxious to walk through them again any time soon.. but that’s cool not every moment in an ep can be smk gold.. but when we put it all together and look at the big picture? together it’s gold!
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So perhaps unbeknownst to us, long before Scarecrow handed the package to a civilian, all along, it was Billy who had taught him to be a rule breaker. After all, Billy already tried to get Ray Packer to violate his national security oath for the Delta Green priority, along with Lee. And I really like the shot of Billy walking down the hall barking orders with his assistant at his side and his underling agents properly following him and hanging on his every word. Go Billy!
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Maybe- good theory!
Billy is awesome here huh! 🙂
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I liked that shot of BIlly and his flock too, but it gave me another reminiscent giggle, this one remembering Lee, Yuri, Amanda, and Billy lined up two-by-two in the Playing Possum station wagon/hearse chase scene! I guess you’re not the only one having trouble staying focused, Iwsod!
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go for it Raffie!!! 🙂 ahhhh that was funny! maybe we needed to insert some suburban-ness into the hunt for the Dragon..
the Pyramid could be found to have a lovely gift shop on the south exit and Amanda could pick up a novelty oven mitt for Dotty 😉
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“The Pyramid”: A lovely gift shop selling oven mitts with a Pyramid or at least an ancient Egyptian design… – I love that thought!! 😉
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Funny, but I hadn’t considered Billy as a rule-breaker (or maybe a ‘past rule breaker’) but that makes sense. And maybe Lee’s becoming less of a rule-breaker over time too? (i.e., Amanda’s influence). It’s yet another example of old Lee vs. new Lee. Here, I also think Billy is pulling out all the stops just because he can. Yes, he’s fierce when he wants to be. Go Billy!
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It’s not lack of interest on my part Iwsod! It’s just being constrained by the platforms available while I travel!
That shot with the cigarette smoke makes me think he’s part dragon. Which would have been an awesome plot twisr come to think of it.
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Oh happy travels Janet! 🙂
Durran is a dragon? whoooo I think that could have worked! 😉
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Yes, Durran, the baddie dragon. Great capture, by the way. I don’t even have a good Duran Duran reference. Hmm….maybe he ‘danced into the fire’ (View to a Kill) and came out a dragon on the other side…? 😉
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They ruined the punch line of the riddle (hey! just like I always do in real life!). The riddle the Sphinx asked Oedipus was “What is the creature that walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon and three in the evening?” And the answer is “(hu)man.”. A baby crawls on all fours in the morning (young), and the next phase two (child through adult) and in the evening (old, end of life) two legs and a cane.
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I was thinking that, too! I guess they’re just trying to emphasize the different age groups involved here: the younger agents and the retirees. But, it kind of falls flat because it only vaguely ties in, and they didn’t present it well.
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Yep agree Jestresss.. good theory on what they were going with her.. now I can see what they were trying to do.. they.. just.. didn’t quite get there..
Oh well. What was it Lee said to Billy? No one bats a thousand!
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Or “close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” This was a miss!
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Ooh! I know what would make it even better and funnier! What if Philip and Jamie had to do some volunteer work at a retirement home for a school project or scouting activity, and they just happened to pick Birchwood? That’s more of a season one kind of thing to do, I think, but it would add an extra dimension to the story and more humor. Then, there would be that third phase of life like in the riddle: kids, working adults, and retirees. 🙂
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Good point Jestress, the intersection of Amanda’s two lives seems to have been a serious point lately, rather than a source of humour (except for OBD with Dotty that was just flippin hilarious).. I’m not finished writing this ep yet and am wondering if we will see Phillip, Jamie or Dotty at all!!!! (don’t tell me! 😉 )
Good work with the riddle! 🙂
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I really like this, seriously Jestress. I miss the home life. And how the show would use it to complement the plot or to drop a hint to the viewers or just to make Amanda seem more dimensional (and to highlight her areas of expertise!). Another possibility would be one of the boys studying Egypt in school — they could even do a continuity thing like Philip saying, “After making that gnarly volcano last year, this pyramid should be a piece of cake!” And Philip could absolutely give a little spiel about the pyramids’ “escape hatches”, and that would be a good opportunity to present the riddle that they just heard about in school, giving Amanda an intuitive eureka moment!
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Hey, yeah! 😀
They could even tie the pyramid project into the retirement home if one of the boys was doing a project there, like interviewing the people there about what life was like when they were young (I had to do something like that for a school project once) and got Rupert as a subject. Philip could tease Jamie about how dull his assignment is compared to making a pyramid, and Rupert could overhear and be tempted to give Philip a lecture about pyramid building but yet hesitate to explain exactly how he knows because it’s supposed to be secret. He could just say something vague like he used to be an engineer himself or that he likes history or something. After all, everything has its own history, both people and buildings. Then, Amanda could use that information later, like you said, both the back door thing (which Philip could repeat again to Amanda later saying that old guy was totally right and it is pretty cool) and that Rupert seems to have an odd interest in pyramid construction. Lee could even still be visiting Lois and Glynis while Amanda and the boys are at Birchwood, and Amanda could catch him there, hiding from Philip and Jamie behind baskets of homemade goodies. 😉
Raffie and I want to rewrite the beginning of this episode!
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I really like your version. I think it sounds a great improvement on what we get.
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Oh yes, I’m in favor of that! Does seem like riddle would make more sense with the King boys included. I like having Philip, Jamie and Rupert interacting, and the boys getting spoiled by sweets would be fun.
And while you’re thinking about that rewrite, Jestress and Raffie, throw in some more subtle Lee and Amanda flirting and change Francine’s outfits (at least, the Francine bib-style top.) 😉
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LOL, Jestress, that sounds fantastic! And yes, Sara, you’re right — a little well-placed flirting would be the perfect finishing touch!
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ahhhh !!!! something in the next post is about this – so I’ll say no more for now.. but thanks for clarifying that one.. all seems pretty random to me!
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