7/21 Season Three, Episode 22: All the World’s a Stage–Scarecrow and Mrs King

Back to the place of large satellite dishes ( The Strategic Defense Initiative Research centre). Again we find Maria working away at her desk. There’s a knock at the door.
Maria: Yes.3.22-ALL-THE-WORLDS-A-STAGE.avi_0009[91]_thumb
A guy enters: Miss Von Clausen. We’ll have the car ready at gate two at precisely 3:47 tomorrow for Operation Potomac Plaza. 3.22-ALL-THE-WORLDS-A-STAGE.avi_0009[63]_thumb
[LOL is this guy security? He wasn in that first photo of her wasn’t he… Love how it’s 3.47 – not 3.45! ]
Maria: It’s so cute the way you turn my little rendezvous into full blown security operations.
[I suspect it isn’t really so cute..]3.22-ALL-THE-WORLDS-A-STAGE.avi_0009[72]_thumb
Walter: Well, it’s my job ma’am , 24 hour guards, besides, it’s only once a month.
(Walter the bodyguard tries to make light of it.)
[It’s all a bit awkward!]3.22-ALL-THE-WORLDS-A-STAGE.avi_0009[51]_thumb
[Ugh!!! Pointing out that everyone knows how often she’s gettin some good lovin?! Not a good tactic to help her feel comfortable about it!!!! No job is worth that!!
Didn’t Princess Penny have a similar problem she shared with Amanda before Lee barged in searching for orange lipstick? ]3.22-ALL-THE-WORLDS-A-STAGE.avi_0009[56]_thumb
Maria: You know it’s so comforting the way you make this public life seem so very private. It is private,Walter, isn’t it? You don’t listen or have cameras or anything do you?3.22-ALL-THE-WORLDS-A-STAGE.avi_0009[88]_thumb
[She appears happy, but I’m guessing she isn’t.. or she wouldn’t be asking this question!]3.22-ALL-THE-WORLDS-A-STAGE.avi_0009[78]_thumb
Walter: Miss Von Clausen!  We , we don’t ..we wouldn’t…
(He pauses so stunned at what he just heard)
3.22-ALL-THE-WORLDS-A-STAGE.avi_0009[16]_thumb
(words can’t express! rofl. He begins backing the heck out of there)
3.22-ALL-THE-WORLDS-A-STAGE.avi_0010[5]_thumb
… heck no. Huh….
[rofl. his reaction is priceless! And rather unrehearsed Smile Which is probably why she surprised him with this question!]3.22-ALL-THE-WORLDS-A-STAGE.avi_0010[3]_thumb
Maria has a little giggle to herself about making Walter so shocked and awkward. So, the lady has a sense of humour! [I’d say to put up with this scenario you’d need it!!] This makes me like her a little more (as I don’t know what to make of her). I also am not sure what to make of this relationship. She meets Tony once a month.. for how long has this been going on? I’m still not clear on whether this is a genuine relationship. It could just be a fun convenience, rather than a true unbreakable partnership – I’m wondering if they are like Lee and Amanda.. and so far I’m not sure at all! Maybe they are the anti Lee and Amanda!

Anyway, the scene ends here..

Back at IFF the next day, in the Q bureau, Lee and Amanda are working on Lee’s computer. 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001007807
[LOL it must be love.. they even have matching plaid shirts! gah!! Okay, don’t focus on the shirts iwsod.. you can do it!]
Amanda: Ok, Carl Valentine’s tax return for 1981.
[Whooo great! While you are at it, why don’t you pull out Donald Trump’s? – sorry couldn’t resist 😉 ]
We see the read out..
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001018618
His total salary was $173,942 was it.
Oh lol what’s this ‘Filing Statatus= Single’?! tee hee..
Lee: Woah if that is a bad year for him I’d love to see what a good one looked like…3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001019486
… Francine’s coordinating a five year screening of surveillance films from the Soviet Embassy. Maybe we catch Mr. Valentine in another lie.
[this is hilarious, Lee if you had followed Valentine after your ‘interview’ you would have saved everyone a lot of work!]
Amanda: Yeah look it’s nearly 10 o clock, I gotta get to rehearsal.
(Amanda goes to get up, Lee grabs the script). Hmm he doesn’t want Amanda to go? 🙂
[Okay, I’ll say this once: They is grandpa pants he is wearing!!]
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001029629
Lee:  You’re ah, really going to memorize these lines huh?
They move around in front of the desk
Amanda: I’ve already memorized most of them.3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001031431
Lee: Oh yeah?…
(Lee flicks through the script and responds casually)
…What about Act II scene II, the chanteuse and the German soldier? 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001037237
[You know, I sense a set up! Lee is so casual, and suggests this one particular scene? Why do I get the sense Lee prepared for this in advance?  And knows what the chanteuse and German solider got up to in the script and chose it on purpose?
I don’t know.. but it reminds me of the tag of A Lovely Little Affair, where Lee leads Amanda right into his trap Smile with his lesson on flirting (hiya toots!). She didn’t know what he was up to! Here? It has the same vibe to me! Will she catch up more quickly this time? ]
Amanda: Go ahead.
Lee: “You are the soul of decadence.”
[Decadence? I bet the Russian wrote that bit!]3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001038038
rofl. Amanda starts in with the exaggerated acting! 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001039439
Amanda: “Better than to be soulless!”3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001040840
Lee: “You see through me,…
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001043043
…to that hollow place inside”
[Oh my, we could have some fun with this dialogue – do you think it has a more personal meaning here?]
……gimme a break.3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001045245
Amanda (deadpan): Don’t ad lib.
(louder and in character) …“Your opacity is transparent”3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001046646
Lee: Huh???3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001050250
Amanda whispers: I’ll explain the subtext later. [rofl!!! Your lack of transparency is transparent? and there’s a  subtext to that?! ROFL this dialogue is hilarious!!! as is Lee’s confusion.. I’m with Lee ha haaaa.. Mon Dieu! ]3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001051651
Lee: Uh huh.  “Perhaps that’s why I drink. Another! Maybe this one is the one to make me forget”.3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001057857(We see Lee have a little chuckle to himself over this dialogue. Amanda moves a little closer to Lee err the German soldier)
Cue the sultry music!
[Maybe Amanda is taking over this little set up! Emboldened by the role she is acting.. yes.. All the world’s a stage?!] 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001060060
The chanteuse moves the script out of the way – and puts her hands on the German soldier’s chest.. 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001060460
Amanda: “Wine really make you forget?”3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001062462
Lee: Yh?3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001063263
Amanda: “Yes?”
(Lee pauses a moment. 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001064297
then responds by tossing the script. Wherever it doesn’t matter!) 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001065799
Lee whispers: I have another in mind…
(He puts his arm around her)3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001068301
… No hangover either.
(Lee takes a step closer.. hooo  haaaaa.. could it be they are about to kiss?????!!!!!)3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001069803
Amanda : That isn’t your line.
(Amanda also moves closer!)3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001070603
Lee: Who cares?
(Lee says this line in a playful German accent..3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001071004
at this, they share a laugh
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001071905
and they move in for a kiss)3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001072305
a kiss????!!
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001072505
Ugh!!!!!! We cut to the Film Library door opening..
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001074107
[Oh my gosh!!! Francine’s face is hilarious!!!! Especially when framed by those hilarious earrings!! ] We cut back to this: 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001074207
Francine: Uuuuh…
[Looks like no kiss.. Boooo!!! I’m over this!!!! Mon Dieu! Mon Dieu!!]
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001074407
(Amanda notices the interruption first.)
[Their reactions are hilarious -remind anyone of the sour grapes tag?!]3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001074607
[Love the little clenched fingers as if to say can’t touch! busted!! And the hands in the pockets- can’t touch!] 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001075408
(Lee looks like he wants to shoot Francine! tee hee.. )
…We’ve got those embassy tapes ready for you, but I see you’ve got your hands full!3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001078611
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001079212
Amanda: Rehearsing.??3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001079813
Lee: Yep
Amanda: It’s rehearsing!!3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001081114
Francine: Oh, and when is opening night?
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001082916
3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001083616 (We cut back to Lee and Amanda looking busted and with no comeback.)
[LOL Lee starts smiling, and then reverts to irritation at Francine. go away Francine! Lee why don’t you tell Francine to shut up and eat her Taco – worked on Petrovich!]3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001085018
… Ha ha… 3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001085819(Francine has a giggle to herself at how funny she is.)
[And hey, maybe at how funny Lee and Amanda’s faces are right now! haaaaa]3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001086920
She pulls the door closed saying to herself: Joke…3.22 ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE.avi_001088121
The scene ends here.. with Lee and Amanda left rather stunned!!

You know I’m getting a bit ho hum with these near miss kisses.. I’m now assuming they won’t!

However, I think this little scene is fabulous (how about you?), and shows me that both Lee and Amanda are more than ready to take this next step! Lee set it up with the little role play (Just like it started in A Lovely Little Affair) and Amanda caught on quickly – played along perfectly.. stepping it up a notch with her flirty challenge about the wine really making it possible to forget! I love that Amanda never loses the accent – she’s aware of what she’s doing the whole time Winking smile 

Just what is Francine going to do with this little moment? Burn her eyeballs?! I’d say there’s going to be some strong rationalisation going on for her to make this right in her own mind! We can’t have Lee and Amanda being a romantic couple ever, in any sense of the term.

Well I cannot wait to hear what you all make of this big moment!!!!!  Anyone remember seeing this on TV and not knowing what would happen? do tell! Thanks for reading!!

78 thoughts on “7/21 Season Three, Episode 22: All the World’s a Stage–Scarecrow and Mrs King”

  1. Oh and I literally spit out my drink, IWSOD at the “they is grandpa pants” that Lee is wearing. They are!!! What is with the wardrobe department???

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    1. Ummm I’m sorry LeeLovesAmanda I have no idea what you are talking about. I have zero recollection of Lee Stetson in grandpa pants. Nope. Never happened. Never ever ever ever. haaaaaaaaa!!! [Just kidding 🙂 ]
      When it comes to THE Lee Stetson – the words ‘grandpa’ and ‘pants’ should not be in the same sentence. Am I right or am I right?!

      I think this is my favourite… to hear me and smk gave someone a laugh makes my day. Thanks for sharing!!!

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  2. Yet another time when my teenage self threw pillows at the TV… UGH! I was sooo frustrated. It’s not like we could YouTube “S&MK kiss” back in the 80s. I was over all these near-miss kisses and wanted to see the REAL thing!

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  3. It’s like 10 minutes after this scene before I can focus on anything again.

    Kinda going on with what was discussed during the last post’s comments about previous season 3 episodes referenced during this episode- I think we’ve all been had by the SMK puppetmaster! I wonder if it was KJ – since clagjanet mentioned in the last post comments that it was KJ’s idea to recast the actor for Tony in the S3 finale as good luck, maybe that started it all! Iwsod, you noted ALLA and Sour Grape references here, and I totally agree and saw it, too. I’m looking forward to catching more shout-outs. Maybe Tony’s sweater earlier is a Mr. Brand reference, and the reuse of the Krutiev driver/assistant is a reference for The Eyes Have It? And as you pointed out, Iwsod so eloquently when you said, “Okay, I’ll say this once: They is grandpa pants he is wearing!!” – grandpa pants could be a shout out to our Birchwood friends from TPE? 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I mean, now I’m thinking of other “Easter Eggs” throughout the remainder of the episode, too…like didn’t Francine do her, ahem, “Happy Hooker” routine also in FFFT? In the same or a similar dress, too, I think.

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  4. For someone who hates plaid, you sure do wear a lot of it, Lee. 🙄

    I love me some CasualLee but powder blue plaid is not the way to go about it. Even in the 80s.

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    1. Haha… Me too! Holding the tape recorder up beside the TV, just in case the brother comes into the room and interrupts. 😉

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  5. Loving all the comments in this. Morley, I feel like the writers might have had a field day tucking symbols and literary references into this script. Makes me think of early S1 where there always seemed to be a message or joke behind the message…. lots of hints and teasing of the viewer and double entendre. This is what makes SMK pure gold for me.

    I LOVE Walter and have never minded this Maria/Walter scene because it sets up such a great acting job by this adorable security guard who takes his job sooo seriously. He is totally and hysterically flustered as he hurries out of her office! I LOL every time I watch the poor guy and Maria’s smile. Wonder if she knew that question would fluster him that badly and so she sort of sets him up for it. That does sort of point to her sensing that he might have a crush on her, as does his reaction … that idea is growing on me a little.

    Guess I don’t have to say much about how I feel about those gorgeous, vibrant, comfortable, forever fashionable (at least in my closet!) flannel shirts 🙂 And I actually do like Francine’s outfit although it is OTT. I think she looks very pretty in it, even if it is heavily-accessorized, early 80’s style. But the best adornment is her wicked cat-that-ate-the-canary grin as she exits. The scene had to be quite the shock to her, but she was quick on her feet with a great comeback, and had to be thinking about the many delightful ways she could take advantage of this little moment as she smiled her way out.

    Last, I have tried to stay out of the gutter about pants ever since Bromfield Hall and the rather snug make-me-sweat-pants which were most decidedly not grandfather pants. However, I will say that I can picture this Lee/Amanda/Francine scene being filmed and a big discussion going on as to how the actors should play the scene. I doubt it took them long to conclude as has been concluded here that Lee’s hands should be in his pockets for obvious reason. I just wonder who came up with that thought first!

    And to end on a higher note, and sorta circling back to the first thought, the title is “All the World’s a Stage”, the dramatic theme is neo-absurdism, and in this dialog scene the writers are scripting a script within a script … this is their opportunity to go crazy with symbols and hidden meanings, which I’m sure is exactly what they did! So every insight and interpretation of the meaning behind that scene is probably spot-on! (And my thanks too to Petra for covering that in a yuku post years back.)

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    1. OMG your thoughts on the pants: obvious reasons for putting his hands in his pockets! Whoa! I never thought of that — probably because I started watching this when I was s young teen and was not aware of such thingsi. But now— I love it!! LOL!

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    2. Diving back in after so long, and you know what I saw first? Yup! The hands immediately into the pockets….Oh my… so much for my high and lofty thoughts.Its time, Lee, you have got to stop rehearsing! Time to lift the curtain… if you don’t it may compromise your ability to have your mind on the job!!! You know, I wonder if he took himself to task with that one? Perhaps he should have a glass of scotch and give that a good think??? I will need to make a note of that… Maybe Francine might have triggered him there?

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  6. Just like with the rehearsal scene in the last post, Petra had a lot to say about the dialog in this rehearsal scene. Subtext galore. I guess the gist of it was that the dialogue between the Chanteuse and the soldier was reflective of how having Amanda in Lee’s life has affected him. She has saved him from being soulless, She has seen through him and has given him another life, one where he doesn’t need wine or women to forget past pain and dead hollow places. Forget the wine, Lee has another in mind – he has Amanda!
    I think that was the gist of what Petra had said, and of course, I loved it! 😉

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    1. Help! Where is Petra’s dialog about the scene? Someone mentioned it in another post (maybe you?) and I went looking on her website and never found it. I gave up and your comment reminded me.

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      1. You know, it might have been on the Yuku site.. I used to lurk there a lot before I found JWWM. Is there still a link to that site in the side bar here?

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    3. Goooooo Petra!!!
      Love this! Thanks for sharing Petra’s insights Morley – hey Petra if you are reading take a bow! 🙂

      Wonderful to see you could stop by and join in Morley hope you are well 🙂

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  7. I’ve never really given Maria Von Clausen much thought in this episode – at least not up until this point, but after reading this post, I’ve decided that I like the idea that she is a highly intelligent woman who is vital to the country’s star wars defense, and therefore, the government must protect her at all times. I think she has to be available and/or work around the clock and only gets one weekend a month off for personal time. She is that valuable to the country. With this in mind, I’m thinking that she’s a literal genius compared to Walter and is toying with him like an adult can toy with a small child. It’s literal child’s play. Given her job, her intelligence, and her status, I’d like to think she doesn’t give a rip who knows what she does with her weekends. Maria has needs and isn’t afraid of others knowing. I kind of think this is more male behavior, but I’m guessing she’s probably the lone female at such a high level of the strategic defense initiative. I think she’s given up private life and marriage, kids, etc. to use her big genius brain in service to her country. So with all those thoughts, I don’t find this scene bothersome at all and makes me quite like her. I may not like her choice in men, but having a genius brain doesn’t account for taste! hahaha

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    2. I agree, BJo. I don’t think she cares who knows about her monthly trysts. It does make me wonder how she met Tony and can sustain any sort of relationship with him…

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  8. I’m with Lee ha haaaa.. Mon Dieu!

    Shouldn’t that be “Mon Dieu, mon Dieu!”? 😉
    Oops, nevermind, I see you got it right the next time 🙂

    Love this line by Francine – she finally gets a good one on them. They deserve it, IMHO. I don’t mind that this is a near miss kiss. After TPTB have made us wait this long, this would have been pretty anticlimactic if it had been their first kiss. I’m sure I wouldn’t have said that when this first aired, but I’m saying it now.

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    1. anticlimactic? I agree..

      especially because it all starts under the guise of practicing her lines… but then I don’t think I would have been that picky in the 80s if I had seen it lol!

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      1. When I first heard the ep, I didn’t realize what was really happening. I don’t remember my reaction when I first watched the episode, but I’m sure I let out a groan of frustration and pounded my fists on the couch!

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    2. I wonder if in after thought, Lee and Amanda would have thought that set up would not have been sufficient. No more little set ups to squeeze in a kiss. The plan at the end of Dead Men was much better. If Lee doesn’t walk right in through the front door soon, I wonder how long the door might be open. Of course, Amanda and we have all waited long enough, the woman has endless patients, but it wouldn’t hurt Lee to have some thoughts like this or be wondering if Amanda was thinking like this.

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  9. Oh, the teacher in me has to add that the spelling on that computer screen was pretty poor. Occupation is spelled wrong and so is status.

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    1. Very minor point, but it’s likely that was entered by a DOS programmer. The programmers I knew were very bad spellers. As long as they get the code right, they don’t care.

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  10. I think when I first saw this episode I wasn’t that invested in the whole Tony/Maria relationship. Funny, as I’m writing this I remembered that the main characters in West Side Story were Tony and Maria. Coincidence or back to All The World’s A Stage? Tony and Marie in West Side Story were having a clandestine romance so are the Tony and Maria here. So not where I intended to go with this post. Wonder where Tony Martinet would have met Maria Von Clausen or wonder if this was a set up. Hmmmm….

    I also think that Francine, being Francine, has seen enough of Lee and Amanda to see just how close they have become. Lee was pretty obvious in Playing For Keeps and Francine knew exactly what buttons to push. Here she is doing the same. I think she likes to tweak the situation. At some point she has begun to accept their closeness, while maybe still not being exactly sure of what it is. And I think she likes needling them whenever she can. It gives her the upper hand and keeps them off balance.

    Now, as far as this near-miss kiss, I think I screamed and yelled much harder and louder than any of the previous near misses because I was so exasperated at it not happening. They are both on the same page and they both want the same thing, but for some reason TPTB just wouldn’t let us be satisfied. How dare they keep teasing us like that! It was so frustrating. That great lead in of them being so flirtatious and so close and no payoff. Sheesh!!

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    1. I like this Tony and Maria in West Side story idea. Another indirect Shakespeare refernece too because West Side Story is a modern day telling of Romeo and Juliet. Do we have star crossed lovers and forbidden love in this episode? With Maria and Tony… or maybe even with Lee and Amanda? Are they allowed to love each other? Do they come from worlds that are too far apart? Are they wondering this?

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  11. Love the rehearsal scene. Its funny and sweet and kind and totally realistic. I think that Lee had read the script the previous night (I presume he had to because of the changes made to it) so he knows immediately where to go to when he helps Amanda with her lines (he is not America’s top agent for nothing). Amanda enthusiastic response is brilliant, she is totally playing her cover! Then Francine walking in – pure farce!
    The matching shirts is a bit much but they are both looking great.

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  12. Lovin hearing from you all! Sorry life’s busy right now so not much time to comment..but I am really enjoying hearing from you all – rofl at all the errr ‘trouser’ comments! 😉

    I think the little Maria part of this post is (rightly) overshadowed by this big Lee and Amanda moment!
    I suspect the body guard’s in love with her 😉 in a crush/worshiping kinda way.. I just think it’s really cute.. and lol I’m not thinking it’s really clear and others would agree – but it’s just a little vibe that I like to play with 😉

    Certainly interesting to learn a little more of this Maria/Tony relationship – I’m still pretty unclear about it’s quality though….

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    1. I like the idea of Walter having a crush on Maria. I hadn’t thought of it but I like it. In my opinion, she would do a lot better with Walter than with Martinet. The whole supervised date once a month is a bit icky for me. I wonder is it true to life?

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      1. 🙂
        Very icky! It’s like she’s in prison and it’s a conjugal visit. And everyone knows when she gets some good lovin 😉

        On the up side.. great to see a very important, clever scientist being a female character!

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        1. Is there really such security around a scientist like Maria? In the US? Maybe is old Soviet Russia, or in stereotypes. I never really thought about it before.

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  13. I love this scene…the sexual tension is very strong…I enjoy Lee’s set up, his enjoyment of having Amanda in his arms, and his dimples as he goes to kiss Amanda…if looks could kill, Francine would be a gone…love the shocked look on Francine’s face…i always that a good come back to, “when’s opening night,” would have been for Amanda to give the date of the plays opening night.

    I never cared for Maria’s scene, it’s too icky for me…I guess they want us to know she’s important. Does she live at this plant or if she has her own place does she have this security?

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    1. dimples.. yes very lovely indeed! 🙂

      i always that a good come back to, “when’s opening night,” would have been for Amanda to give the date of the plays opening night.

      me too! because there really is an opening night. but I think after Amanda throws out there ‘rehearsal!!!’ she couldn’t drum up any more logic.. she was too flustered.. so she didn’t remember there really is an opening night. lol at least that’s the theory I came up with…

      Oh gosh, I hope Maria doesn’t live at this plant!

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    2. I too love the mutual enjoyment between Lee and Amanda in this scene. I think that is something new for the two of them and its lovely. I think they both enjoyed that. But I am still glad that Francine interrupted them. I want their first real kiss not to be a result of some coy set up. I want a real declaration and invitation. Something Amanda ( and Lee) can hang their hats on and not be able to rationalize away. Just my two cents

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  14. I think I like Maria so far. I can’t imagine how she deals with having security while she’s with Tony. I honestly wouldn’t feel very ‘romantic’ if I knew there was a security team nearby that knows (and hears) everything.

    Ugh! Another missed opportunity! It seems to me they were close enough to already be kissing when the door opens. One thing I do love about this scene is that Amanda may only be ‘rehearsing her lines,’ but she grabbed the opportunity (lol…too many gutter thoughts, not enough time) and reached for him. Maybe it was partly for dramatic effect, but I think she wanted to see what he’d do. 😉

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  15. It might be just me, but I see a difference in Francine’s reaction to catching them “in the act” so to speak, we dont see the disbelieving, dismissive attitude, and the “what the heck???!” reaction that we saw in FFFT when she caught them similarly in the hallway of the hotel.

    This adds to my suspicion that Lee and Amanda might have already “taken the leap” albeit off camera, I mean it’s been implied that they have been on several dates; Lee presumably took Amanda to her HS reunion at the end of “Triumvirate” also at the end of FFFT, they had a dinner date, I’m assuming. So perhaps the “cat’s out of the bag” about them so to speak, I couldnt see them being able to hide it from Francine for long.

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    1. whoooo interesting! I hadn’t heard this idea before!

      Why would Lee and Amanda already going on dates mean Francine reacts less what the heck? would Francine know about these dates?

      I guess I agree with you Norma- because I’ve seen Lee and Amanda as dating for a while now – they just aren’t calling it dating yet. Have they taken the leap? based on this scene we might wonder yeah! Let’s see if the rest of this ep has any light to shed on this interesting idea! 🙂

      I think Francine was less what the heck because she can see they are closer yes, and maybe after the hallway in FFFT- she is a little more prepared to deal with it (subconsciously) – but consciously I think she would still resist believing it’s happening until she has no other option but to believe it. lol.

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  16. Lee should be wearing jeans. Not the grandpa pants. I will admit to liking the plaid shirts – the matching doesn’t bother me. I think the SMK wardrobe section was going for a French flag theme: red, white and blue stripes – well some are more like blocks than stripes, but there is a bit of a Gallic-theme going esp with Francine’s outfit.

    I also enjoy this scene. Amanda is hilariously OTT, and it’s good seeing Lee helping her out with her lines, not with her entry agent exam questions.

    Maria looks terribly normal and a bit dowdy – so not like the type of woman off for a dirty afternoon/assignation. Shades of Millicent and Agnes. I hope it ends better for her…. 😦

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    1. LOL my hubby and I actually dress similarly unintentionally quite often (same color of shirt, same style etc …), I have read it’s something you do unconsciously when in love 😉

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    2. yes.. after Agnes and Millicent – I’m worried for Maria!

      yeah I can give the plaid a free pass too.. but those trousers? they’ve got to go! oh wait.. no.. that didn’t sound right 😉

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  17. So, back in 1986 when this originally aired I was the obsessed nerd that audio yaped the episodes. I remember having to hold myself back from yelling at the TV many times during this season and this scene definitely stands out as one of those moments. If I remember I usually had a pillow to silently scream into.

    I never considered that Lee had pre-planned this scenario. I LIKE it! Good on Amanda for giving as good (or better) than she got. I also love how Amanda just throws herself into this role! KJ is so great here!

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    2. rofl audio tapes! the young of today have no idea what we had to put up with in the 80’s! [on top of the fashions 😉 ]

      I agree Eer- KJ is really funny here! I love that she tops Lee in the flirty department!

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      1. Oh my goodness! My mom got a tape recorder around 1980 or so and my siblings and I used to audio tape tv all the time. We honed our skills on the Hardy Boys and The Monkees.

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  18. Lee is especially physically close to Amanda these days, isn’t he? Leaning over her, touching her, running to open doors, placing his hand on the small of her back; he is very comfortable in her personal space and has become steadily more so since “The First Time.” Lee is definitely setting up a flirting scenario, but why? In ALLA, it made sense because it was a first time foray into asking her out for real and if she turned him down he could play it off easily. He could have been unsure as to her response then, but now? Surely by now he knows she is interested and that they are on the same page. I somehow doubt Lee has ever bothered to create flirting scenarios (outside of a peacock dance) for anyone but Amanda. Francine looks pretty in her sailor outfit… but those earrings could serve as twin anchors. And heck yeah, Lee was hiding the “attraction” by putting his hands in his pockets, all the while probably trying to keep from strangling Francine. Our favorite couple just can’t catch a break.

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  19. Security guy is obviously super serious about doing a good job and I think von Clauson is just toying with him.
    Not to stray onto not-SMK matter but just briefly, ROFLMBO re the Trump tax returns, Iwsod. Yeah, we’d all be interested on those, buster! 😦 grrrr
    Back to my happy place now – SMK. 🙂
    Yep, definitely a Lee set-up going on here, and Amanda happily playing along and taking the bull by the horns (or the Lee by the shirt) to make sure it happens. So they’re definitely both on the same page (pun intended) and more than ready to go there but it seems like if it’s going to happen they going to have to get away from work, and home, and DC, or anywhere Francine could possibly be! Does anyone at this moment not want to fit Francine with concrete boots and send her to the bottom of the Potomac to “sleep wid the fishes”?! 😯

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    2. Does anyone at this moment not want to fit Francine with concrete boots…

      Will those boots fit Francine’s outfit? Otherwise they would be be sooo unfashionable, Kiwismh… 😉

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  20. So Francine is going for the Russian sailor look today. But compared with the plaid shirts and the Docker Dad-pants the Fashion Police are going to let her off with a warning this time. The relationship progession action is the only thing that’s saving L&A from a night in the FP cells! 😎

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  21. Ugh FRANCINE! My gosh, between her and Dotty, Lee and Amanda are never going to get any action. I remember vividly screaming at the screen and Francine becoming public enemy number one.
    An interesting take that Lee chose this scene purposefully to flirt with Amanda. I had assumed with his confusion of the lines it was random, but who knows. I’ll check out the addendum on the original script on Petra’s site to see if the intention was for physical interaction between the German soldier and the Chanteuse and Lee chose it because of that. But huge kudos to Amanda for moving in when she saw the opportunity (who could blame her?).
    Trying miserably and failing to keep my mind out of the gutter, I thought Lee’s hands in his pockets were to hide the ‘attraction’ he was feeling at the moment.

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    1. Trying miserably and failing to keep my mind out of the gutter, I thought Lee’s hands in his pockets were to hide the ‘attraction’ he was feeling at the moment.

      That’s what I thought, too, Cindy. blushing beet red
      See ye in our hiding spot (gutter)…

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      2. Maybe Valentine has someone too? (lol….Valentine has a ‘valentine’) That might explain Krutiov’s comment in post 5. 😉 😉

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      1. nothing would be a mood killer like seeing Francine the Russian sailor!

        Yeah, but even a mood killer doesn’t work THAT fast… O:-)

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