On to the flash Hotel Monroe.. 
Sallee is seen walking toward hotel doors, bag in hand. He goes through the door to the storage room, walks to the cupboard and opens it, then opens his bag.
He moves the light bulb packages away from where he had placed them. 
The scene ends there.
[We seem to be left in suspense here about what he’s doing with moving light bulbs and opening his bag. Also very mysterious how one second he is holding his bag with his right hand and then suddenly moving light bulbs with two hands. I guess this is another Sallee secret: he has three arms!!! Every assassin should have one.. err I mean three!!!
Oh and.. Oh my, those light bulbs are the same as the one Amanda had! ahem.. ]
Back to Millicent’s.. 
We find Amanda sitting on the couch in the lounge with her notecards spread out on the coffee table in front of her, and sheets of paper in her left hand. She picks one up and reads aloud to herself..
[Call me crazy but that photo there on the right looks like it could be KJ.. too blurry to be sure though.. and maybe I’m just seeing things!]
Amanda: “How did he know I love Schubert?” Russell Music… 2321 P Street… sector 3. 
(Amanda searches her map)
Lee: Amanda?
(Lee calls from another room)
Amanda: Here.
(Amanda doesn’t stop what she’s doing.. she just calls out- she’s focused!)
(Lee enters…)
Lee: You know… You are gonna set a new record for disobeying orders.
(Lee’s chastising her, but IMHO it’s quite subdued. thoughts?Amanda still isn’t looking up from what she’s doing!)
Amanda: Listen, you told me to stay out of sector 3, this is sector 7,…
and besides that, you got an agent outside. I couldn’t be safer.
(Lee nods and quickly moves on 
)
Lee: Okay. What are you doing here?
[I’m not moving on so quickly! When did Lee order Amanda to stay out of sector 3? All I heard was ‘Why don’t you check into that diary some more?’! Which.. she is doing! Also, I love that Lee here moves on so quickly. Old Lee would have gotten annoyed at her 🙂 growth!!! 🙂 ]
Amanda: Well… Millicent said in her diary that Sallee’s hobby was electricity, right? 
(Errr Amanda.. Lee wasn’t there to hear that bit! tee hee..
Lee seems a little confused.. he tries to get a word in but Amanda doesn’t let him.)
..So I brought this light bulb from Mr. Melrose’s office…
(Lee gives up trying to speak..
At first grinding his teeth.. 
but then..
He’s rather indulgent Nice touch!)
…and I checked it out and it doesn’t fit any of the lamps in the entire house. 
Lee: The light bulb is burned out.
[I sensing this is Lee in ‘we are wasting time here’ mode! Hang in there Lee! ]
Amanda: That’s right. (Very calmly.. she knows she is not wasting her time at all ) 
Lee: He probably carried it home with him from work.
Amanda: Mm-hmm. (again, self-confident and calm- they are on to something)
Lee: Unfortunately, there are about a hundred places in DC where he could’ve changed a bulb like that.
Amanda pauses for a moment.. for effect, then responds calmly: Yeah. 
[Okay, here I can see the cogs in Lee’s mind starting to turn.. and actually starting to listen]
Lee: Now, if we could just narrow down the possible locations…
(Lee takes a seat next to Amanda.. he’s on board now!)
[Kudos to Amanda. she’s confident now and holds her ground. She is persistent and assertive without being aggressive. She patiently addresses Lee’s queries and concerns, she’s not interested in squashing him or her ego. Oh what a contrast to Francine and carnation guy. I realise this situation is not exactly the same., however it is a woman working to make herself heard and to set her agenda- so it’s similar. I’m proud of Amanda here – I think it’s a fine little moment! I love this story of professional Amanda]
Yes I know many seemed to not mind the Francine/Carnation man exchange – but I saw it differently, and I think Amanda is much more ‘powerful’ here than Francine was earlier! ]
Amanda: Now look… I think he bought this sheet music for her from Russell Music,…
…at 2321 P Street, right there in sector 3.
Lee: Wait a minute… that’s right across the street from the Hotel Monroe. 
Amanda: Mm-hmm. 
[The way Amanda says this, I’m inclined to think she had already figured that out.. she’s just letting Lee catch up ]
Lee: Francine’s coordinating security for a big diplomatic reception there. 
Amanda: Isn’t the Vice President gonna be there? 
[Again, I’m inclined to think Amanda had already figured out the VP was the target before Lee arrived.. What do you think? ]
Bingo!!!!!
Whoa.. quick to the speedy Lee mobile! 
Back to Sallee and we find he is still in front of the light bulb cupboard and is removing something from his bag. 
A box of light bulbs. 
He puts these light bulbs he brought with him onto the shelf in the cupboard. And the scene ends..
Seems he has replaced the old bulbs in the cupboard with his own light bulbs.
We cut to the Hotel Monroe, a big scary dog is doing a patrol. ![3.20-DEAD-MEN-LEAVE-NO-TRAILS.avi_00[62]_thumb](https://justwalkwithme.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/3-20-dead-men-leave-no-trails-avi_0062_thumb.jpg "3.20-DEAD-MEN-LEAVE-NO-TRAILS.avi_00[62]_thumb")
Hmm Francine mentioned dogs earlier. Hang on.. (iwsod searches- after 3 months break I can’t remember what Francine said!)
Sorry I need a refresher…Okay so this event is a middle east cultural pact. whatever that is. Aha.. post 9, I found it. the dogs were scheduled to sweep the room at 1100, 1400 and then one hour before the reception at 1800. Hmm..
Francine: Look, I have run a deep background on everyone who’ll be in this room tonight. And a medium risk check on anyone who won’t even be near it. I mean, I don’t see how Sallee could even get in here. ![3.20-DEAD-MEN-LEAVE-NO-TRAILS.avi_00[112]_thumb](https://justwalkwithme.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/3-20-dead-men-leave-no-trails-avi_00112_thumb.jpg "3.20-DEAD-MEN-LEAVE-NO-TRAILS.avi_00[112]_thumb")
[Oh how ironic. He was standing right next to you earlier 
poor Francine.. this is gonna hurt that ego of hers 
]
Lee: Well, let’s just hope we have boxed him out of whatever he was planning.
Sorry guys…Hold that thought! I’m going to pause it here – before we get into this part of the episode.. I don’t want to split what’s coming and this post is getting big enough.. back with more soon!
How are you finding this ep? any thoughts you’d like to share?
"Just walk with me.." 
Not sure if anyone here reads Mary Higgins Clark, but Sallee reminds me.of some of her villains who just keep killimh as they think of more “loose ends”. Especially in “You Belong To Me”.
Can I just say how much I love when Lee tilts his head? It’s such an adorable mannerism and he really does it a lot!
LikeLike
Lee: You know… You are gonna set a new record for disobeying orders.
This is why I have never understood why he calls her a rule-follower in ITCK!!!!!! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Obviously, in Lee’s “Espionage Manual: The Scarecrow Edition” there are separate, eminently technical definitions for “rules” versus “orders.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha! Good point!! 😁
LikeLike
I just made a post on an earlier scene how much it cracks me up that Sallee goes from Mr. Talky Pants in the car accident scene to Silent Sallee the Baddie in all of his other scenes. Another example in this one. He is so good at making light bulb shifting look even shiftier without speaking! Silent Shifty Staring Sallee the Baddie.
I also mentioned in my other post how this episode is one of my favorites for multiple reasons. The tag, for sure. But I love where Lee and Amanda are in their journeys here, both personally and professionally, for reasons you all have mentioned already. And I just love so much, for some reason, her diary decryption and how she solves the puzzle. And needless to say, the swooniness of how Lee responds to her throughout the whole episode, beige or not. He could be wearing a burlap sack and I wouldn’t care, especially at this point in his development.
LikeLiked by 2 people
You know… You are gonna set a new record for disobeying orders. This implies Lee thinks she is catching up to him, no? LOL, Lee, you might wanna have a little chat with Billy…your boss, you know 😉 Although, I guess Lee doesn’t so much disobey orders as just making up his own orders and following those, I guess in that light I can see where he is coming from.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahhh, love the indulgent Lee shot!! Swoony goodness right there!
I’m not sure if I necessarily agree that Amanda is more powerful than Francine when comparing how they each are using their power to get what they want. Beyond the general similarity of a woman working to make herself heard and set her agenda, I think the two situations are very different. Francine’s power stems from her authority as being in charge of the security. Van Kleef basically has to do what he is told – Francine is the boss. Amanda’s power comes from special knowledge (e.g. housewife/mother/suburbanite) that Lee does not have and also from Lee’s heart. Amanda has no authority over Lee and therefore would not even try to boss Lee around. She uses her special knowledge and connection with Lee to get what she wants. So Amanda should not use Francine’s approach any more than Francine should use Amanda’s. Yes, the special knowledge of light glass being used as a bomb could be argued as special knowledge, but Francine doesn’t need to tell Van Kleef that to get what she wants done. I think that in Francine’s situation she needs to act from a position of authority. She could definitely use a little less vinegar and little more sugar, but I think she should not use too much sugar – she is in the position of authority and is acting in front of two other subordinate agents. I think in Francine’s mind (stemming from her career as an agent, rising through the ranks to be Billy’s right-hand woman), it is better to err on the side of vinegar here rather than sugar. We know from the Marvelous Marvin’s episode she can pour out the sugar when necessary.
LikeLike
Yeah it is not the same situation exactly no question!
I agree Sugar was not what I was suggesting Francine should have used with van Kleef. yuck! I also agree that yes, Amanda was not the boss of the situation – however when she questioned Van Kleef she actually took control very well indeed 😉
I do think you can be in authority while being respectful but assertive, and without needing to go for the sugar.
Now that is a real ‘sweet spot’
It was the personal vibe in Francine’s aggression that tipped it over the edge into less professional and less powerful territory.
I remember this issue of authority and assertiveness came up for me when watching Fast Food for thought & Playing for Keeps – Amanda showed no authority with Marvin.. Lee leaves Amanda to look after Marvin, but Amanda hesitates to show that authority (all IMHO of course!) he doesn’t listen to her and gets caught.
Then in playing for keeps, Francine takes control and demonstrates great authority when she gets the stadium evacuated while dealing with a condescending commentator or whatever he was (while Tina’s assassin flies toward the stadium). She got the job done with authority effectively – and I was impressed at the way she took control then no time to waste on personal snark… I remember celebrating her girl power back then and I enjoyed it! 🙂
Here – while I love hearing alternate thoughts – I’m still unimpressed with Francine’s version of authority when dealing with Van Kleef..
and what I got out of the ep’s events unfolding was a reversal – Francine being a weak official authority, and Amanda being a powerful though unofficial authority.
Bring on the tag I say 😉
LikeLike
I love the dynamic between Lee and Amanda here. Yes, Amanda is focused on what she’s doing in regards to the case, but I think that part of her non-reaction to Lee’s appearance is the fact that she knew he would probably show up. She did leave a note in the Q Bureau, so his arrival was not unexpected. It’s almost as if she was waiting for him.
I also like how Lee says “you ARE gonna set a new record”. He knows that she’s going to keep doing this or that it will happen again and that he may as well just enjoy the ride. He’s all bluster and no bite.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Francine gets the best dressed award in this segment.
Lee and Amanda’s outfits are so boring and frumpy even the Fashion Police are letting them off this one – just having to wear those clothes is punishment enough!
Is it just me or does that fabric bomber style jacket make Lee look few kilos (pounds – whatever weight you think in) heavier?
LikeLiked by 1 person
In general it has always seemed to me that BB starts each new season lean and tan, but adds a pound or two as the season progresses. I can relate! That said, a little fluctuation is Lee’s weight is definitely NOT a problem — he always looks great to me!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That darn food truck!! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bwa ha ha ha!
LikeLike
Oh, I think there favorite moments right now are sitting closely together on a couch or desk breaking open a case 😉
Lee said something to Amanda about not following directions well in The Boy who Could be King, didn’t he? I am beginning to wonder if it really is an issue for him, or if it is just part of his rhetoric with Amanda. I don’t think he is as concerned that Amanda isn’t following orders. I think he is understanding that when she has gone about doing something her own way she is operating in an area that she is gifted in and he should probably snap out of his Lee mode and pay attention. This is a great relationship! Both personal and professional. To be able to recognize when its time to step out of your own brain and listen to another’s and then work your thoughts back in as well is a real skill and a very wonderful way to have a fulfilling relationship with another person. I think they both feel that here and are pretty comfortable and happy about it. And so should the Vice President be!
LikeLiked by 4 people
“And so should the Vice President be!”
That would be George HW Bush if memory serves correct. Could have long-term implications if something happens to him… if SMK was real, which it isn’t… and Sallee’s nefarious plan (whatever it is) is successful, which I’m confident it won’t be because this is happening in SMK-land 😉
LikeLiked by 2 people
I gotta say – these are my favourite moments right now too 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
This remains one of my favourite episodes because it shows Amanda’s growth (and Lee’s too of course) where both start listening to one another and appreciating the other’s talents. But yes, Cindy, Lee is looking mighty fine…
LikeLiked by 3 people
I enjoy it too, Anchoret. It’s a very well-balanced episode for both personal and professional development. But I also think it shows one way that Amanda has learnt to ignore Lee, ie when he goes through the motions of telling her off (he doesn’t sound or look like he believes in what he is saying 😀 ), she just carries on regardless 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Totally agree! I will add that I don’t think Amanda’s failure to make eye contact as Lee entered the room was due to concentration so much as it was due to her not wanted to engage Lee. I think she very consciously stayed focused on the matter at hand to redirect Lee from a personal to a professional response. She did it beautifully and Lee had the maturity to allow her to do it.
However, this made me think back to the scene where Sallee was about to kill Amanda and Lee rescued her, then did not yell at her. We noted that it was nice to see Lee respond in this way and that his character had evolved to the point where the angry reactions no longer happened. To put on my devil’s advocate hat for a moment, in these 2 situations, as sweet as it is to see Lee respond with self-control, I don’t think that yelling at Amanda would have been inappropriate, nor an indication of Lee not progressing in the relationship. In fact, if Lee is starting to love her more intensely, his emotional reaction to her being in danger is going to be stronger. I know that, as a parent, if my toddler were to start running to the street and I had to run after them and it was a close call, once that child was safe, I would have yelled at them for as long as it took for that adrenalin of fear for someone I love to quit coursing through me! Anyway, in the case of this later scene, I think Lee is more annoyed than panicked, but in the earlier Sallee/Amanda scene, if Lee had not still had professional actions that he needed to take (chasing Sallee), I think he might very well have given Amanda an earful and I would have completely understood. As a mom, I think Amanda would have understood too.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I like this raffie! I can go with this! Or.. maybe it’s both? but I like that Amanda isn’t attending to Lee’s displeasure – which she quickly shows was totally unnecessary (agent outside and all).
Again – Love this!! So true.. there’s a time for the personal and a time for the professional and Amanda has it sorted navigating the two now it seems 🙂 Besides – the VP is in danger (as I think she’s realised before he comes in) so there are bigger priorities than Lee’s not being happy she wasn’t where he thought she’d be 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Besides – the VP is in danger (as I think she’s realised before he comes in) so there are bigger priorities than Lee’s not being happy she wasn’t where he thought she’d be😉” I bet Lee admires the way Amanda has learned to handle these priorities. Its one of the ways that she has grown that makes having her as a personal partner as well as a professional partner work for him.
LikeLike
And I admire Lee’s admiration of that 🙂 tee hee..
So true Morley!
LikeLike
All sounds good to me Raffie! I agree that with Adrenaline the ability to not snap at Amanda would be greatly reduced!
I’d say yes Lee is in general, getting better at now reverting to annoyance, anger or frustration when his emotions are high. but at the same time, I’m guessing most of us would agree that Lee is still human, and he’ll have his moments.. but they are much less common, less typical and tend to be more adrenaline provoked.
Absolutely! I agree!! Even if he knew she had been trying to get away from Sallee (as the script played out) he would still have been very wound up about it all! phew!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anchoret!!!! So wonderful to see you are still stopping by – I don’t think I said a welcome back to you yet.. so I’ll say it again to be sure 🙂 lol!
Yeah! I’m agreeing with you – this ep has everything doesn’t it!!! I love your description, they are very much equal partners in this ep!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I must admit, Lee is looking mighty fine here. Getting all mushy inside looks good on him. 🙂
LikeLiked by 4 people
I noticed her hand moves from that spot on the couch to somewhere on his back near the end of that scene. Lee’s mighty fine looks are having an impact on her too. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well spotted, you are right.
LikeLike
Just a random thought triggered by this observation…. it makes me remember back to high school days and that endless dance of trying to show a guy you are attracted without overdoing it. How much can you get away with? What is over the top? While it is comforting to think that their relationship has advanced to the point where this kind of touch is second nature, I still wonder if Amanda gave it a moment’s thought before doing it. After all, we’ve just agreed that Lee looks mighty fine (i.e. distracting) sitting here on the couch beside her, and the positive dynamic as Lee buys into what Amanda is saying would offer the perfect opportunity for a little extra “warmth” in the exchange. However, as I reflect, I like to believe that Amanda crossed this bridge somewhere around The Eyes Have It or Triumvirate, yet I remember the “looks” in The Triumvirate and how it appeared they were both still coming to terms with the direction in which their relationship was evolving. So was this touch on the back calculated or spontaneous, or somewhere in between? And if totally spontaneous, when did Amanda reach this level of comfort and intimacy with Lee?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know I do episode order differently than the airing order, so I am confused about what we have already walked through… but have we already walked through The Boy who Would be King? Because if we did, I would wonder why she might be tentative to touch his back here? If we haven’t walked through that episode yet, please ignore this comment.
Their touching has always been spontaneous. At first neither of them really noticed ( or they tried not to), then they began to notice and were confused by it, Then they became self conscious about it. Only recently have they begun to welcome it, and now I think they are learning to enjoy it and the freedom of it. And yet, I bet there may still be some confusion over it because there is as yet, no declaration… from either one of them. That could get confusing and even become complicated, huh?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes Morley, we’ve walked through The Boy who Would be King.
I’ve had that in the back of my mind in this ep, and it feels to me that Dead men leave no trails comes before the boy who would be king. it fits better IMHO both personally and professionally..
I’d agree with Raffie that a line was crossed around The Triumvirate…
at the moment in the journey, I’m seeing them as being very comfortable and close when alone, spontaneous and natural with the touching. And I think Amanda is much more guarded when in front of others. Lee- well he’s always been a bit of a toucher but Amanda is cautious to be seen as professional I think.
Her worry and sleep deprivation over Lee saw her maybe displaying more feelings in front of Billy than she would have preferred.. but then, Billy was a safe one to slip in front of 😉
Umm this could all be undone by what I see next. lol. just my thoughts right now at this point in the journey – with The boy who would be King placed after this ep.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Its very odd for me to be so disjointed with the flow of SMK, but its kind of neat too, because I have lost my grid for viewing everything. I am going somewhat blind, like you do Iwsod 😉 If I recall, I like this one after The boy who would be king. I think I even wrote some of the Scotch Thoughts for these…I will have to drag them all out and get moving again (I hope)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Morley without her grid? Whooo hoo!! sounds fun 😉
yeah no worries! I like TBWWBK as the season finale.. but am trying to keep an open mind till we actually get to the end of season 3. lol.
LikeLike
This required a comprehensive investigation!.. ahem..
I LOVE that you shared this observation Sara- yeah! there’s definitely some movement with that hand! lol!
I had a look (a few times 😉 ) and I think Amanda’s hand is still on the couch-but it’s not her palm it’s her fingertips now resting on the couch. Does that make sense?
I don’t see Amanda putting her hand on Lee’s back there because it would be extreeeeemly close to his butt.
but the darn map is in the way so it’s tricky to say for sure.. and it’s just IMHO – I’ve seen things and heard or not heard different things to others at times -so not saying there’s a wrong or right answer – just what I’m seeing.. [there’s a big difference 🙂 ]
LikeLike