5/5 Season Four: Episode Fourteen- Rumors of My Death–Scarecrow & Mrs King

The next scene opens with a view of a massive apartment block. Seems to be maybe the more budget end of town?
{Lee walks down the hall as a pretty, sexy, provocatively dressed young lady in a yellow raincoat {and not much else} smiles at Lee.
Lee arrives at room 134 — the apartment Mrs. Spickens mentioned. He knocks on the door. After a beat, a blonde woman in pigtails, jeans and a partially unbuttoned cowboy shirt, opens the door.}
Becky: Hi. I’m Becky Sue.
Lee: Hello, Becky Sue.
Becky: Hi. Come on in. {She pulls him in the apartment.}
Lee: Well, Uh Becky Sue, I am not….
Becky: Come right over here and sit down. {She pushes Lee over to a red and white checked table cloth spread on the floor.}
[Wahahahahaaaa]
Becky: Honey, I’ve got chicken and mashed potatoes..– all kinds of things we can have fun with.
Lee: Phew
Becky: {continuing} Does my big fella like beer?
[Big Fella??!!! oh my, I forgot all about this scene! this is flippin hilarious!!]
Lee: Uh, Becky, I hate to break this to you, but I’m not your big fella.
Becky: You’re not Steve from Nebraska?

Lee: No. I’m Lee from the government… {he flashes his badge} …the federal part.

[That image they used for this ID is hilariously informal and scruffy looking, it’s the image they had on his files in If Thoughts could kill grrr big fella! Sorry, I’m distracted again! ]
Becky: Oh hell!
{She springs up and crosses right to the door, opens it and yells down the hall.}
Becky: Ramona!
{She crosses back in the door. Lee is still sitting on the table cloth.}
Lee: Ramona?
Becky {continuing}: Look, I just offered you a meal and a beer. There’s nothing wrong with that.
{Ramona enters the apartment}
Becky: {to Ramona} He’s federal.
Ramona: All right, if you’re going to arrest her, I wanna know the charges, I want to see your warrant and I want to see your badge number…
…And I’m a member of the bar so don’t go handing me a bunch of garbage. [A member of Randy’s bar?! this Ramona is intimidating! rofl. She’s quite the stereotype.. ]
Lee: Ramona, I’m just here looking for some information.
{lol watching on, Becky Sue digs into the fried chicken.}
haaa dinner and a show!
Ramona: You missed the library by two blocks. [Haaaa good one!]
(Lee finally gets up off the floor)
Lee: I’m here on a federal investigation…

…Now, I can have ten or twelve officers here every day for the next two years if you want –

– poking around, asking questions –

– or you two lovely ladies can just answer a couple of my questions and, uh I’m a memory.
(Ramona seems to relent, non verbally.)
[LOL she didn’t put up much of a fight haaa]
Becky: What kind of questions?
Lee: I’m looking for a lady who was here six years ago.
Ramona: Honey, there have been over a dozen ladies in and out of here over the last six years — could you be a little more specific?
Lee: She was seeing a guy by the name of Luther Spickens.
Ramona: Never heard of him.
Lee: {hands her picture} Really? Well, this is what he looked like then.
(Ramona and Becky study it.)
Lee: {continuing}: You recognize him?
Ramona: I should have known…federal agent…you’re after that senator’s wife aren’t you? [Whooooo Alice is a senator’s wife?!]
Lee: I’m after the woman who last saw him alive.
Becky: He’s dead? Gross.
[Rofl at Ramona’s reaction to Becky! haaaa!!]

Love how it’s gross but Becky continues to eat anyway.
Ramona: Look, she was a real sweet kid. So she was hot and heavy with this Luther guy back then. She got out of this dump. She should get a medal.
Lee: What senator are we talking about?

Ramona: The one from the Midwest… Babcock. Your friend here was her previous suitor.
[someone give Ramona a medal! Is it just me or are senators either wife cheaters, baddies, dead or being taken for a ride on smk? could they just once be a good person who survives with reputation intact? rofl.]
The scene ends here.

Next, we join Lee and Amanda driving along in the corvette. Guess that blast didn’t damage if after all. lol.
Amanda: I was going to tell him, but he was so excited about his news I didn’t have the heart to tell him.
Lee: Well, you did the right thing.  [aie. Lee does run hot and cold on this!!]
Amanda: Yep  [iwsod thinks.. nope!]
Lee: We’re gonna just have to keep it a secret a little bit longer.
{{CINDY:I do not understand this line of reasoning AT ALL}}
[Same! But then, I don’t understand any of this reasoning around the secret marriage at all!!!]
Amanda: But, we’re going to tell him though?!!!
Lee: Right…yeah, I mean, then he’ll be just as happy for you as you are for him.
Amanda: Right!!
[Sounds to me like they are each trying to convince themselves of what they are saying. How do you read this exchange? do tell!]
Lee and Amanda arrive at the Babcock estate. Nice place.
Have we seen it in any other episodes? I use to have time to actually explore this stuff.. but not these days!!! soooo if anyone else has time and is motivated to – please go for it and share your findings with us!

{The maid shows Lee and Amanda in. Alice rises to meet them as the maid exits.}
Amanda {to maid}: Thank you.
Lee: Hello Mrs. Babcock?
Alice: Yes.
Lee {showing his ID} : We’re federal agents. We’d like to talk to you about Luther Spickens.
Alice: I’m sorry?
Lee: How about Ron Trask?
Alice: If you have questions, why don’t you ask him.?
Amanda: He’s dead, Mrs. Babcock.
{Alice is stunned.
Her eyes glaze, as she slips into a faint.
Lee and Amanda move to catch her.}
[Wahahaha this looks so funny!! Sorry I couldn’t resist posting these pics!! ]
Lee: WHOA!
Amanda: OH!
(A little later, we find Alice sitting calmly.)
{She’s holding the notes Mrs. Spickens gave them.}
Alice: I had just moved to Washington. Ron was helping me settle in. He had met Luther in a bar and hatched the whole plan.
Lee: So he wanted you to seduce Luther for some IDs? {{CINDY: Nice brother- pimping out his sister}}
[What a creep!!! That’s ‘helping’ her ‘settle in’?!!!]
I’ll paraphrase a little Alice’s story. .. Luther’s marriage was ‘terrible’… Luther gave Trask and Alice the IDs and then Trask passed them on to Weathers to sell. Then Weathers paid them.
Alice: When I wouldn’t run away with him to France, Luther got demanding. Ron decided he was dangerous.
Amanda: So he shot him?
Alice {nods}: After that, I wanted to run. But I was already in with uptown society. Alan and I were married that same year. Funny how things work out.
Babcock doesn’t send him to the library for his information haaaaa. Weathers is at the evil golf course resort thingy, referred to as a ‘convention centre’ -got it.
Alice gives them a tip that Weathers has a new ISP on the market. One Luther made, which he was delivering to Trask the night he shot him.
Alice: When Luther’s body was found, Ron somehow got the pass and gave it to Weathers to sell. {beat to Lee} It’s yours.
Lee: I know.
The scene ends here.
[Alice Babcock is certainly being extra helpful and forthcoming. I guess she is trying to avoid being charged with anything at this point.. but she was involved previously in selling ISPs. I wonder if she gets off, and gets to keep her marriage and reputation? I honestly don’t remember…

lol I guess I have my answer for why Trask even went back to his sister to update her on the situation when she wasn’t even involved anymore haaaa… it was so she could later tell Lee and Amanda! haaa!!]

On to the evil convention centre!
{Amanda and Lee walk down a path away from the hotel toward the funicular. Amanda is talking into a walkie-talkie.}
Lee: We called Billy over a half hour ago. Where’s the back-up?
[Yes our assistant Billy is really slacking off!]
Looks like Lee and Amanda can’t wait, even though their backup hasn’t arrived yet.. They start looking for Weathers.
Lee:  Look for a man over 60, balding with a white fringe of hair.
[rofl. that’s  so vague for on a golf course!! rofl!!!]

We cut to Brad Pitt Taggart and Weathers riding on a funicular for their exchange.
Taggart: {handing him the briefcase} Fine…I’m on a tight schedule.
Weathers: I see. I read the OPEC ministers have a meeting in Sao Paolo. They’re on a tight schedule too, aren’t they?
[I don’t know why Brad Pitt Taggart doesn’t just knock off this nosey seller and keep the money for himself. rofl. Umm did I just say that out loud?! Plus, he’s kind of annoying haaaa.]
They exchange $$$$ and ISP. 
Weathers: Congratulations…’Lee Stetson’. Use your opportunity wisely.
Taggart: How will I know if they’ve invalidated this?
Weathers {smiling}: Oh, somebody will put a gun to your head and take you away.
[He looks too gleeful about this!]

(Taggart is unimpressed.)
…So, don’t sit on it Taggart. If there is a suspicion, it will still take some time to pull the clearances. Wreak your havoc post haste.
{The funicular reaches the bottom.}
Taggart: I intend to. And… I intend to cover all my tracks.
{Taggart  reaches into his pocket and pulls out a gun equipped with a silencer.}
[Ohh haaaaa I forgot he did this!! I’m not surprised, Weathers is too irritating! Keep the money while you are at it Taggart! haaaa…]
{Lee and Amanda arrive. They look down at the lower station and see Taggart shoot Weathers, then get in a funicular with his briefcase.}
Rofl. He really did keep the money for himself. haaaaa.
Lee and Amanda get on a funicular and head down, while Lee tells Amanda the plan.
Lee: You’ve got to get a hold of Billy on the radio. That guy gets by me, he’ll be gone. Take the car down and check Weathers out, Okay?
Amanda: Yeah.
{Their funicular descends. And descends. {{CINDY:CindyDee daydreams for a bit, does a load of laundry, finishes her taxes and checks back in}} Still descending}
[Such a wasted opportunity. This moment needed some making out between Lee and Amanda as they prepared to part ways! Was that what you were daydreaming about Cindy?]
Lee: Alright, wish me luck.I hope you don’t mind.. I’m going to shorten this action scene..but if I don’t mention something and you wish to discuss please raise it! 🙂
Cindy I’ve really cut this sequence down, so sorry if I don’t include all your comments I’ve tried to! But thanks for transcribing descriptions for Operation Sandstorm!!!
(Lee jumps onto Taggart’s funicular. Taggart yells hey get your own funicular you cheater! [Okay I made that part up]
Then, they start fighting… There’s some shooting.. It looks like Lee’s a goner hanging over the edge and about to get squashed.. but nope Lee’s okay..) or as Cindy put it: {Just before Lee becomes a sexy pancake, he realizes he can leap the scary 2 inches or so off the funicular and scramble up a fence.} {{CINDY:What a nailbiter.}}
[Lee the sexy pancake. Never thought I’d hear that!]
Lee continues his pursuit of Taggart.

Amanda reaches Weathers who is still alive and conscious and has some last words for Taggart. Not very interesting IMHO. Blah blah.
Billy and the backup arrives. A few car loads of male agents.. and Francine. [go Francine fly that female agents flag!]
Billy spreads out the agents to find Lee and Amanda, while
Francine tries to contact them on the walkie talkie.

Taggart pulls out his ISP and yells he’s a federal agent and seizes the security guard’s bike. LOL he didn’t even show the ISP. Whatev. the security guard is on the walkie talkie straight away to report it.

Amanda updates Lee on Weathers, says he didn’t make it, but he said the ISP is with a guy named Taggart.
Francine hears this too.

Billy puts out an APB for all security staff to detain anyone named Lee Stetson.

[Rofl. Really Billy?!]
Of course Lee straight away identifies himself to two security guards. and.. Gah. Lee’s pursuit is delayed while he deals with Billy’s order!
[Honestly, it’s kinda painful to watch – Billy’s on the walkie talkie saying no he’s the real Lee Stetson let him go!
Umm like that means anything to these poor guys who were just trying to follow your knuckle brained order.]

{{CINDY:This is even more of a nail biter than the Lameo Jet SKi chase scene in Brunettes Are In….}}
[I haven’t checked but-was that Flight to Freedom?]
Taggart’s on a three wheeler.
So’s Lee..
Amanda’s on a high speed golf cart and cuts off Taggart.
leading him straight into a wedding ceremony
– Lee of course follows straight in there… a moment later..

Taggart comes out covered in wedding flowers..

Lee comes out covered in flowers, streamers and wedding cake.
Followed by the reverend, the bride, the groom & a guest. haaaaaa..
[Honestly, this one is totally played for laughs.. and doesn’t even try to be an actual legit action sequence haaaaaaa. Go SMK!!! haaaaa..

Kudos to BB for really going for it and letting go of his dignity here haaaa… all worth it for laughs!! More chasing on bikes..

Lee trying to look all tough and determined with wedding cake on his face.. Not even a face full of wedding cake can dent his determination!!!!! Lee’s such a tough guy!!!!! haaaa..

Oh Lee.
From this day forth, Lee Stetson could not smell carnations without blushing in embarrassment!]
Billy and Francine show up right in time to cut off Taggart and allow Lee to catch him. Lee picks up Taggart off the ground..
Lee: I believe you’ve got something that belongs to me!
Lee whips out his ISP from Taggart’s pocket.
[Lee! – someone has also stolen your dignity! haaaaaaa]
Amanda shows up knocking over stuff. ha ha. hilarious.
Amanda’s golf cart brakes hard and smashes into some empty cardboard drums.
Billy (deadpan): Nice driving Amanda.
Amanda: Thank you sir.
{Amanda approaches Lee, noticing his condition.}
Amanda: What a mess, heh

[Amanda is finding this too funny..

hmm she might need to lose some dignity too! haaaa]
{Lee removes some cake and frosting from his jacket,
(he holds it up for a moment and Amanda doesn’t seem to notice.

Then, he shoves it in her face.
Lee rubs it in but good.

Taste that Amanda?

That’s fun that you are tastin!)
Once Amanda opens her eyes and actually tastes it, she’s full of num num noises..
And Lee is right there with her. Num num. Oh my the image above is too funny!! 
They look at each other

and laugh Haaaa Haaaa.. num num. The scene ends there.

It’s tag time!!! Back to the Q bureau..  Amanda is at her desk thumbing her calendar. [Wait. what is that on her desk?!]
Lee enters the room..
Lee: Hi
Amanda: Hello!
Lee: Ah, I just talked to Alice. She’s got a tough road ahead of her but she’s holding up. You know, I actually think she’s glad to have it out in the open.
[Sooo what does that mean? She facing any charges? I’m guessing they kept this vague on purpose! And why don’t we get to hear Mrs Spickens is going to be just fine, and that she got some cool pension so she can close up that ugly shop of hers –sorry if you liked it-]
Lee: We missed our blood tests.
Amanda: Yep, that sets us back another two weeks.
Lee: All right then. Two weeks from today…
(Amanda smiles, nods and puts her agenda away. Lee stills as he notices the cake on her desk)
…Ah, Amanda, you having a birthday or something I don’t know about?
Amanda: No. (super nicely!)
Lee: Oh, Well, then what is that?
Amanda: It’s a cake.
Lee: It’s a cake.
Amanda: It’s a cake.
Lee (chuckles a little nervous?): Heh, I can see it’s a cake…
…Uh, what’s it for?
Amanda (smiling so sweetly): Oh, it’s a …
it’s a sample wedding cake…
(Amanda picks it up and stands, Lee sobers just a little more!)
…Would you like a taste? (so sweet and innocent as she asks!)
(Lee looks down at the cake, then back up at Amanda)
Lee: Uhhhhhh nooooooo…
…Uhhhhhh, I think I can wait two weeks.
Amanda: You sure?
Lee (chuckles): Heh, yeah, I’m sure
Amanda: Yeah, okay.
(Lee turns away a moment.. while Amanda continues to sweetly hold the cake up high in front of her smiling…)
Lee (super cheeky serious!):You wouldn’t dare.
Amanda: No.
Lee turns back and…
WHAM!!
The episode ends here with a freeze frame on this moment. Haaaa.. Num Num. take that Lee!!!!!
Never dare Amanda!!
I do love how Amanda plays this, she’s a great match for Lee!!!! I love these playful tags!!!
What do you think?

Next episode? 4.15 Bad Timing!!!
Before we start the walk through Bad Timing, LeesMolly has written a blog post about Lee’s apartment in Season 3 which I will be publishing next week. Go LeesMolly!!
Anyone else have an smk post they’ve written up and would like to share? feel free to reach out to me. 

After the Lee’s apartment in Season 3 post, it looks like the walk will need to have a pause 😦 I really, really want to get into Bad Timing!! Gahhhhh I guess the episode title is ironic huh.. but my hand issue is continuing to mend and I need to pace myself while I’m not back to full capacity. Work has to come before play – so there is going to be a delay in me getting the next episode done. Thanks for your understanding and I will get to it as soon as I am able.

Maybe this is a chance to take a look at some earlier episodes? 

Make sure you subscribe to this blog if you aren’t already, so you are notified when I post an announcement of when the walk through Bad Timing will commence- if you are subscribed new posts hits your email inbox

Anyone craving fried chicken? mashed potato? Wedding cake??!!!