Walk 2-10/10 The First Time 1.01-Scarecrow and Mrs King

Ready to finish up walking through The First Time? [Me Neither!]
Having just found out the leak is drugged Francine getting her cooking lessons, a helicopter arrives outside, and Lee is seen being lead toward it with Mrs Welch and another baddie.

We see Amanda sneak out of the cellar

noticing a bag of sugar and coming up with another plan. Go Amanda!!!

(Lee is lead to the side of the helicopter. Mrs Welch sees the helicopter is loaded with boxes in the back.. )
Mrs. Welch (to agent): Get these pile boxes into the cellar! (to Lee:) Good-bye, Mr. Stetson.
(The two agents carry boxes to the cellar. Amanda pops up from behind their car…

Lee of course doesn’t expect to see her at all ever again but there she is!!!

(And his reaction clues the one remaining baddie into something being there. He turns to look but doesn’t see her.

Still looking quite stunned, Lee goes along with being put in the helicopter while watching Amanda behind the baddie in amazement.)
[I kind of wonder if Lee thinks he is hallucinating there for a moment about that completely confusing woman in his final moments.. ]

(At the helicopter, Amanda tiptoes behind the agent. Then she holds her fingers up like a gun.)
Amanda: Freeze!
(The man turns. When he sees Amanda does not have a gun, he turns back to Lee, who kicks him. The baddie falls. Amanda rushes over.)
…That is what you say, isn’t it?  “Freeze!”?
[Love the hand on his leg ]
Lee: Yeah, usually when you’re armed! Untie me!

(He twists so that Amanda can reach the ropes. She looks at the knot.)
Amanda: Oh, Lord! The Killick hitch!
[I thought the Killick Hitch was supposed to be super easy to undo if it was done right. Is Amanda a pro t identifying a poor attempt at the Killick Hitch? Maybe that’s it. I think I have previously thought oh yeah this is a knot we know for sure Amanda can’t undo! and I forgot the bit about how she hadn’t done it right rofl.]
(Lee looks over and sees the other agents coming.)
Lee: Oh, boy. Come on, come on, get in, get in!
(Amanda looks at the agents.) Come on!
(Amanda runs over to the other side of the helicopter. She gets in the driver’s seat and Lee gives her instructions.)
…Feet on the pedals! Right hand on the stick! Left hand down on the throttle!
Amanda: Why?
Lee: We’re flying!
Whoa.

(The baddie Lee saw starts shooting at them as he runs toward them. Amanda starts the helicopter. It flies up kind of wobbly and shakily.)
…Here, I’ll do the pedal… ……More throttle! More stick! Let’s get this thing up!
(It goes up, wobbling like it’s drunk. More agents come out of the cellar and start shooting at the helicopter. Mrs. Welch runs out of her house. The agents run to their car.)
Amanda: Look out!
(Lee shouts some more instructions to her.)
Lee: Look out!
(Lots of shots of the helicopter flying wildly..)
Amanda: I hate this!
(The agents are in their car, but it doesn’t start.)
Lee: Why are we going back to the house? [Why are you thinking Amanda has any control over what direction that thing flies?!]
Mrs. Welch (in the car): It’s not starting!…
(They get out of the car and shoot their guns again. Mrs Welch firing is hilarious..)
…There’s another car! Take it!
(They run to Amanda’s car.)
Lee: Pedal!
Amanda: Pedal!
Lee: No, not that pedal!
Amanda: Which pedal?
[There’s more than one? Does anyone reading this know how to fly a helicopter?!]
(Lee looks down at the agents running on the lawn.)
Lee: It’s lucky their car coughed out.
Amanda: Lucky nothing! I put sugar in the gas tank! Phillip did it once to Dean’s car, it’s never been the saaaaaaame!
[I’m chuffed to hear Philip did this – and ties in nicely with a future Lee/ Philip moment over Lee’s precious car.
Also, don’t underestimate Amanda Lee!!! ]
 (They scream as the helicopter does loop-de-loops. Lee falls against Amanda.)
…Golly, I’m sorry!
(The agents zip along after them in Amanda’s car.)
…How am I doing?
Lee (with his eyes closed tight): You’re doing just fine!
(Amanda looks at Lee.)
Amanda: Open your eyes!!!!!!!
(Lee opens them and screams. In the car, Mrs. Welch spots them.)
[Aie. This is an awesome gag!!!! But the screaming makes me want to fast forward I think as far as action sequences go this one isn’t a fave of mine… What are your thoughts on this action sequence?]
Mrs. Welch: There they are!
(She leans out of the window and fires a gun at them. The helicopter changes directions and soars over the car.)
[Mrs Welch packing heat? that’s hilarious.]
Lee: Look out! Pedal! No, not that pedal!
Amanda: I don’t know which pedal!
[I thought Lee was doing the pedal? Amanda has enough to do lol]
Lee (suddenly not sounding panicked): What are you wearing?
[Hold on a minute, don’t worry about the baddies chasing us and shooting at us. What are you wearing??!!!!! this delivery is gold!!!]
Amanda: What do you care?
[This exchange makes this far too long action sequence worth watching alone in my book!]
So now that joke is done. Let’s cut to the helicopter chase shall we?

The helicopter continues to wobble around looking like it’s about to fall out of the sky, changing directions, as the baddies are in pursuit in Amanda’s car. Lee yells ‘Throttle’ a lot.. and I don’t really care enough to follow.. somehow the baddies drive Amanda’s car into a ditch and crash. Chase over.)

Amanda: We got ’em! We got ’em!
(we get a view of Amanda’s wrecked car.. Hang on a minute..)

Lee: Gee, I’m sorry about your car.
[Lee understands how people get attached to their cars ]
Amanda: My car? Oh, what am I going to do?
Lee (shakily): Land? Oh, Lord.

(King kitchen. Dotty is cutting vegetables, ready to watch “Colonial Cookery.” The TV is on.)
(The sign behind Dotty reads: MOM- Dean called. He will be on time)
[Who calls to say they will be on time? I’m surprised he didn’t leave a message saying there is a 2% chance he will be late. What a dingbat!]
Announcer: Television’s Colonial Cooking lady is in custody …
(Amanda comes rushing into the kitchen.)
Amanda: Hi, hi. I’m home.
(The boys in their PJs watch Amanda rush around..)
We can hear on the tv in the background: … as part of a suspected espionage ring. Apparently the group was running out of the Tv Personality from Virginia’s estate the same ???? by the way as John Hancock …

blah blah I can’t make out the rest – anyone? is it in the script?
(Amanda goes over to the refrigerator and removes a chicken already on the oven rack. She places it in the oven and sets the timer. She runs back and forth, grabbing things and putting them on the table, including a vase of flowers from the cupboard. [Speaking of production errors recently – you can see the kitchen and family room have no ceiling when Amanda puts the flowers down on the table. At least it looks that way to me. lol.

It’s hard to get a shot of. ]
Dotty, Phillip, and Jamie are standing there, watching. Amanda lights two candles and blows out the match.
We hear the front door bell, then Dean calls out..  having let himself in we hear his voice only)
Dean: Honey, it’s Dean. So, how was your day?

[Is he still around? I was hoping he’d be gone by now!]
(Amanda smiles puts on her mask and a quiet smile as Dean enters unseen by us.. )

The scene feels like a tag.. but then. no the episode isn’t over yet!
(On to the agency, and we get another exterior shot of the agency..

Tag 2 is in Billy’s office. Amanda is explaining to Billy..
While judgy Francine listens and Lee paces. [I’m guessing he doesn’t want Amanda talking to his boss or Francine. She’s not supposed to be here, or rescue him. She’s supposed to be the case. and back home in suburbia.]
Amanda: Anyway, I couldn’t get it out of my mind, I thought, Duck a la Nathan Hale, and Valley  Forge Flapjacks, and all the recipes that Francine gave–well, what I did was I put sugar in her gas tank, because I knew that when I saw the helicopter, that was the only way we were ever going to get out of there, alive, I mean, those men had guns, they had guns,…
[We see Billy listening with a stunned smile talking it all in lol. Love the cardy Billy!
I think we don’t know for sure, but I’m guessing this is the first time Amanda has directly spoken with Billy – we didn’t see her and Billy meet earlier they were in different rooms… just my take though! His demeanour here has a this Amanda is novel and new kind of vibe to me..]

…so, um, I ran up to the helicopter and I yelled “Freeze!” but I didn’t have a gun, but Mr. Stetson kicked the man and the man fell down, (Amanda points to Lee) (We cut to Lee pacing and looking kinda nervous?? Like he wishes the ground would swallow him up)
… and he–I ran over to untie him, but I couldn’t untie him because he was tied with a Killick hitch, and who can undo the Killick hitch? So I ran around to the other side of the helicopter and I got in, and we went up!
[Amandaramble #1!]
Billy: But had you ever flown a whirlybird before?
Amanda: No, but it was just like my dishwasher, you give it a good kick and it will go just fine!
[Lee’s hands suddenly become more animated and he wants to move things along and get Amanda out of there IMHO]
Lee: Uh, we gotta go, Billy.
(Lee smiling nervously walks over and grabs Amanda’s hand guiding her to stand up and leave with him. But Billy pauses her. Francine is gaping just taking this all in. You just know she is gathering material to tease Lee with!)
Billy: Uh, if there’s a need, I trust we can count on your help upon occasion.
Lee: What?
Billy: Well, Lee, we do use civilians from time to time. ...She’s anonymous, idealistic, responsible,… [she’s right there Billy!]

and besides, maybe having her around will help you to be more careful.
(Lee is unimpressed!
Huh.

Amanda has a quiet smile hearing this, and enjoying, but then – it’s time for business. Amanda gets assertive!) [Go Amanda!]
Amanda: Does this job pay anything? I mean, I have been looking for work.
Lee: Say good-bye, Amanda.
Amanda: Good-bye, good-bye.
(Francine gives Amanda a little wave)
[Claudia referred to it as a ‘snooty wave’ in her transcript. haaa that’s gold!!]
[I do wish there had been some kind of reference to how it had been Francine being drugged, and how Amanda saved all their butts!!! but.. I guess this sets up what is ahead, lots of minimising of Amanda’s contributions by Lee and Francine, while Billy is her initial champion. Okay. I can go with that, but a ‘Bye Francine glad the drugs have warn off’ on the way out would have been delightful to hear rofl.]
Billy: Scarecrow… (Lee, following Amanda out of the room, turns to face Billy, Amanda having left the room.) I think we’ve finally found you a partner.
[Billy looks like he finds this pretty amusing! While Lee responds with a look like daggers!!]
Lee: Knock it off, Billy.
Francine: Oh, you two are darling together… …I understand she knits or something.
[Booo Francine, not flying the equality flag here! boooo.]
Lee: I’d button it, Loose Lips.
[Is ‘Loose lips’ a reference to Francine’s blabbing while drugged? Hmm I’ll take it! ]
(Lee leaves closing the door and we’re left with a shot of Francine reacting – oh really???!!! And looking just as smug as ever.)

The scene ends there..

So, for our 3rd tag – we find Lee and Amanda walking outside..

Looks like a historic part of DC – anyone care to explain this location? Please?
Amanda: So, if I work here, does that mean that I work with you? I mean, that’s what you do, isn’t it? You have partners? But you know, I might need some special training. I’m not sure I have the right skills. I mean, I type, I don’t shoot, you know? But I do love this area. Oh, I’m crazy about it…

…All the fresh vegetables come in here, and besides that, the boys’ dentist is right around the block, so what I could do is, I could drop them off at the dentist, then I could go into spy headquarters, and then I could pick up a fresh melon all at the same time. Do you have a good vegetable man?
[Amandaramble #2!]
Finally, Amanda pauses for breath and waits for Lee to say something. He stops.
Looking a bit shell shocked he turns to look silently at Amanda…
And the episode ends there. This ending definitely has a this is the start of a beautiful relationship kind of vibe..

What kind of relationship?? hmmm!!!

I’m thinking Lee is trying to take it all in and struggling to keep up. How exactly did I end up here? having to listen to her talk about kids, dentists and vegetable men?? me? possibly work with her?? How is this my life?! Gah!!!!!!

LOL what do you think is going through Lee’s mind here as the episode ends?

I think Amanda is in the whole – I can do everything! I can make it work! I like to think she is full of energy here because she’s excited about what she has accomplished and hopeful that she can maybe make this fascinating work at the agency job offer thing happen. Thoughts?

Gosh all – do tell me what you think too please? don’t have to agree with me share your own take if you like!!

Overall, I think to Amanda, Lee is exciting and opening up a whole new world to her – full of possibilities. Dean is a well worn path, and she can pretty much guess what that future is going to look like there..and it looks boring and unfulfilling.. So far Amanda seems to be going along with that, but through Lee – she’s branching out and exploring her life looking different than the boring suburban mom and wife thing [‘housewife’] . While being a mother is important to her, she’s trying to accommodate a career.. and maybe wants to find a different way to do motherhood.. Go Amanda!!!

I think Amanda is extremely resourceful and brave.. I can see why this would be intriguing to Lee even if he doesn’t have a clue at this point what to do with it. I think throughout this episode Amanda constantly takes Lee by surprise – he thought the suburban mom would be predictable and easy to play… what he found was a resourceful, brave woman who actually showed care for him and went out of her way to help him. I think he’s super thrown off balance by Amanda and he finds it simultaneously confusing and addictive.  Not what he expected at all!! Amanda is no push over, and was a huge help to him.

So begins a journey of change and self-discovery for them both!

*******Can’t wait to hear your thoughts!******

I hope you have enjoyed walking through The First Time here on JWWM as much as I have in celebration of the smk 40 year anniversary of the first airing of The First Time!!

What’s next? I’ll publish a post tomorrow to announce the blog will be temporarily taken offline from the weekend of 9 December 2023, while I refresh and get things set up for the ongoing walk to recommence in early 2024.

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***Thanks everyone I hope we have many more years of walking through this show together!!!!! ***