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Lee and Amanda are off to the casino because a casino chip was found on a dead guy.. did the mongoose plant it there?
Who cares!  One look at Lee in that tux and .. whegougoashdgag.. I am the mongoose! who is the mongoose? 😆

Ok. well, maybe a few thoughts will come to mind as we go through this scene (if I don’t stare directly at the tux I should be ok! )

The scene at the casino opens with a wide shot.. check it out.. a variety of people are there.. all wearing black and white with only a hint of red.. We see Amanda is having a go at Blackjack (even the game is black!) with the help of a man sitting next to her while  Lee has his back to her scoping out the room.

Love how Amanda has a little giggle at her winning again – Lee chooses this moment to turns back to her, and he is stunned when he sees how many chips Amanda has now!!

LOL!! He kind of does a double take at her winnings! I wish we’d had a close up of it!

LOL! I love it.. the guy next to her has been telling her what to do- Is it just me or is the random helpful old man always the bad guy? (at least in Europe!!) LOL!

Amanda is giddy.. until she turns to see Lee all stern faced! I love that she slumps and pulls a face as if to say – ugh! he’s not happy with me- he’s such a downer! I love that she actually acknowledges (even if it is only in a gesture to herself) that Lee is being a downer and she knows it  

Lee: Are you keeping your eyes open?
Amanda: I’ve been watching all night, just like you told me to.
Lee: Good. I don’t want him slipping by because you’re scooping up your winnings.
Amanda: Listen. It was your idea that we should act naturally and play while we’re on the stakeout.
Lee: Yes, and try to remember that.
Amanda: I can’t help it if I’m winning. [Lee won’t admit it, but Amanda is on the money- get it?!! haaaa.. Amanda sees through him here, and knows why he is so grumpy!]

Whooo hooo Go Amanda!! Lee is such a grump here!! Ugh!!! But.. in his tux, he can get away with it haaa.. Love how Amanda puts him in his place here when he chides her that she is suppose to be looking for Conrad- and she says she has been – and she is acting naturally, just like he told her to.. she deals with him so well
With a stony silence between Lee and Amanda, the dealer starts the next game..
Helpful Old guy ( uh oh  ): Look, Amanda, two fives. Now remember what I told you. [he knows her name? uh oh!!] Amanda: Right. Doubledecker.[what’s that double the bet?]*Edited to add: Amanda says Doubledown not Doubledecker- Thanks Melissa for explaining!! check  out wikipedia’s explanation if you’re interested 🙂http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackjack

Ahh I hadn’t noticed this before.. Amanda puts her chips in for the game, and so does Lee- Lee is playing too! I always thought he just sat there.. and LOL!! from the looks of it, he looses! 😆  Ahhh that feels good doesn’t it Amanda
Gambler: Queen.
Amanda wins!! and let’s out a screech  of sorts! haaaaa.. she is too cute as she tries to suppress it.. Who would have guessed Amanda the housewife from Arlington is getting into it and having a great time, and it is Lee, the player who is all grumpy?
Lee: It’s no use. He’s not going to show.
Amanda: Here, look, just take some of my chips, I’ve got too many anyway. Go ahead. (ROFL!!!)
Lee: Just keep on playing, huh? [now you want her to play? I thought you were cranky with her for playing? ah yes.. you were cranky with her winning   Amanda tries to give Lee some chips, but he picks them up and gives them back ruining her stacks of chips! ]
Amanda: Oh, please don’t knock them out of their sta–
Lee: Shhh! I’m going to call Billy, tell him our trail’s gone cold.

What a glare!!!
Ouch!! [and yet smokin!!] Grumpy pants leaves her to go call Billy ( because hey why not just leave Amanda alone right??!!! huh?? Calling Billy can’t wait till you are back at the hotel?)
Dealer: Place your bets, please.
[whoooo who let that lady wearing purple in?!! weird!] Of course, the mongoose ( come on we all know he is the mongoose! ) sees Lee go and so he also leaves Amanda..
Helpful old guy: Amanda, this has been delightful. I think you can carry on without me.
Amanda: Oh, you’re not leaving?
Helpful old guy: Oh, I think I’d better. I’m a few pounds to the good and I never like to press my luck. [No he would much prefer just to press Lee’s neck ]Good night. I’m fortunate to have had such a lovely fellow player.  Until we meet again. [uh oh.. he knows they’ll meet again!]

Amanda: Night.
Dealer: Madame?
Amanda: Yes.
Conrad: Amanda

don’t turn around.
Amanda: Conrad.

Commercial break time huh! tooo funny!

Conrad tells Amanda to move over to the slot machine.. stern faced he reminds her not to turn around and look at him..
Amanda: Sorry. Should I play?
Conrad: Yes. (Don’t look at me I don’t want people to know we are talking but here take this money and use it?? LOL!!! ) How did you know it was me?
Amanda: Oh, you have a distinctive voice. You always have.
Conrad: We have to talk, Amanda.
Amanda: Conrad, are you doing something that’s really wrong?
Conrad: We can talk tomorrow morning. Meet me at Trafalgar Square at ten o’clock.

Lose your boyfriend with the perfect hair first.
Amanda: He’s not my boyfriend.

Conrad: Oh. [Oh dear.. then why are you with him?? Kind of gives a clue he is an agent no?]
Amanda: Conrad, you know, [Amanda’s back turned.. Connie walks away here and leaves her- unaware he has departed!!] it’s really awfully difficult for me to believe that you’re some kind of an international criminal. I mean, I remember what a nice person you were, and smart, too, and I remember the time you won the science fair with your solar-powered ant farm. You were always just a little bit ahead of your time.
Amanda turns to find she is talking to no one.. and everyone is watching her like she is crazy haaaa!! I love how she realises he hasn’t said anything for a bit.. goes still.. then slumps and resigned, has to ask: Connie??? when she knows now no one is there.. Finally she turns to see yes! Just as Amanda suspected.. Connie is gone – Awkward!!Amanda has on some serious shoulder pads there huh!!!

Oh and Solar powered Ant Farm?? ROFLMAO!!! 😀

Why does Conrad tell Amanda not to turn around? Amanda knows what he looks like and knows its him- (and if he didn’t want her to know- why call her Amanda?? I’m baffled!!!)hmm maybe he hadn’t been expecting that ( and therefore that’s why he asks how did you know it was me) though, why keep up the pretence?- it is obvious they are talking to one another when he hands her money to put in the slot machine..

Maybe after all these years of not seeing Amanda, this is the only way he can be so gruff and mean to her as he impersonates  the mongoose perhaps? (we later learn he was forced to by the mongoose) From Connie’s point of view- having to impersonate the mongoose to his high school crush has got to be a huge blow!!! Not only is he trapped and powerless with the mongoose pulling his strings but I doubt he would want Amanda to know it- for her own safety, but also for his pride too! Of course, at this point, at the casino we don’t know this.. and are being lead to believe Conrad is the goose.. err I mean mongoose..

It’s a great joke when everyone is watching  Amanda talking to herself!! 😆 I love that they revisit this gag from season one!!! Amanda now is no longer offended.. she seems – resigned!

Oh and ‘the boyfriend with the perfect hair’ line?? great stuff!!! SMK writers? We Salute you!!! Great to see smk not taking itself too seriously!!

Anyway, Lee is pretty loud and easy with talking about the mongoose- and leaving Amanda alone.. what was he thinking? seems Lee is a bit of a bad traveller- so far he is suffering from very bad jet lag which is impairing his decision making!! (And making him a sore loser! haaaaa) I love how he tells Billy Amanda is fine- she’s playing blackjack ‘ and winning too!’ –he has such a bee in his bonnet about that!! ha haaa!!

Whoo this has got to be a pun.. Lee hangs up on Billy telling him he will  call him ‘if anything breaks’ ( on the case) – ouch!!! then cue the scary music it’s time to try and break Lee’s neck!!

This is quite brutal don’t you think? very violent.. trying to kill Lee like that.. and the reaching for the door and not being able to reach the handle.. Lee was a goner! eek!! I think he had actually reached that moment where he thought this was it – don’t you? you kind of see him give in.. So awful!! Then at just that moment.. along comes his guardian angel  ( Wearing all white) Amanda calling out: Lee????

Awh.. Amanda comes just in time to save Lee from being strangled..wow.. he was even unconscious there for a moment from the looks of it- a very close call!

What a way to go.. Lee in a tux.. I am so glad she came along though, Lee being saved in a tux is much better! 
Err.. Love how he thanks her for coming along at just the right time and vows to repay her in some way and be forever in her debt…. errr.. is that right? hmmm.. let’s see:
Amanda: Leeee!!! Oh my gosh!!! Leeee??? Lee are you alright?
Lee whispers: Amanda.

Amanda: are you alright?
Lee: I will be once you get off my arm. 
Leeeeeeee!!!!! He is incredible!!! LOL!! Jet lag and a lack of oxygen clearly don’t bring out his charming side!
Amanda: Sorry.
My goodness Lee.. when are you gonna learn to say thank you!!!! ugh!!
Lee: Help me up.


Lee: Our man was here. [Our? I like the sounds of that!]

Amanda: I know. I talked to Conrad.
Lee: Yeah. He just tried to show me his necktie trick. When did he leave you?

Amanda: I don’t know. He was behind me. But he told me to meet him tomorrow at Trafalgar Square at ten o’clock and to be alone.

Lee: Not very sociable of him, was it?
Amanda: I turned around and he was gone. [what a shame she didn’t catch a glimpse of the mongoose strangling Lee.. but then.. the fun would be over huh! ]
Lee: Yeah, he had a pressing engagement with my throat. [Yes and Lee was pressing his luck!]
Amanda: I really don’t think that Conrad is capable of strangling anyone.
[we might think wow!! she still has great belief in Connie- knowing he was there she still doesn’t suspect him! but.. when we really meet him- we find out why – the guy really is a goose haaa]
Lee: With a silk scarf.
Amanda: No, that definitely doesn’t sound like my Conrad.
Lee: Well, it may not sound like your Conrad, but it definitely sounds like my Mongoose.

Whoa.. intense! I love the lighting in this scene here with Lee and Amanda.. there are no actual intimate words spoken between them- considering the very close call Lee had, and how Amanda saved him – but the vibe is still very intimate – with the lighting, and the close ups on them in profile – it just has a lovely feel to it – and the two of them have such lovely profiles!!

Beautiful!! like an old movie.. ( like To Catch a Thief perhaps?)
Well.. I shall leave it there for now!!

As always if you have any feedback on my post, or this part of the episode.. or any smk thoughts you’d like to share – go for it!!

Any questions? gripes about the episode? share! we’d all love to hear it byeeeeee

Awhhh.. Lee is helping Amanda carry her Harrods shopping bags Well Done Lee! And asking after Amanda’s mother?? Wow!! I’m impressed!!  

I’m loving all these scenery shots of London.. yes! We believe you!! You really are in London!! Ahhh I loved the Los Angeles Olympics for forcing SMK to film overseas!!!! My fave olympics ever

Why does Amanda keep swapping hands with her bag there? did they have a sponsorship deal with Harrods too? LOL…

Lee tells Amanda all she has to do is point out Conrad Walter Barnhill and she can head home.. errr she knows him Lee – don’t you want to know what he is like?? LOL.. he doesn’t even ask her!

Amanda: I don’t understand how you can actually believe that Connie Barnhill is an international hitman. What did you call him?
Lee: The Mongoose. It’s a perfect name for him. He’s ruthless, he’s very smart, very elusive, a master of disguise.

I have always struggled with the assumptions Lee makes here in the beginning of this episode.. The mongoose leaves his calling card (basically saying-I’m the mongoose!), and a note with the name ‘conrad walter barnhill’ and a casino chip..[EDITED TO ADD: Okay Iwsod has made a boo booo here.. check out comments- smkfan(thanks!!) has clarified the casino chip and note with Connie’s name was found on Demarco- not mongoose! the same logic still stands though, when we find later- Connie has the Mongoose calling card as his passport photo.. ]  Lee thinks the clever and cunning mongoose is also saying ‘ I am Conrad Walter Barnhill’ ?? that doesn’t sound smug.. that just sound dumb to me!  The mongoose left his real name on a piece of paper for them to look up his passport photo and see the mongoose’s calling card there too-so he can yell again at Authorities – I am the Mongoose!!! tee hee.. who was it that did that- was it Dillinger? the gangster?? who yelled ‘I’m Dillinger!!!’(gangster history buffs?? ) 

In the beginning of this episode, on the boat, the American agent DeMarco was wearing a wire. They even heard the mongoose speak to DeMarco  with an english accent [Conrad is American!!]  and he told the 3 guys that anyone who knows his name doesn’t tend to live that long- remember?? soooo he just left a little note with them so the rest of the police would know his name? LOL!
Amanda: Alright. What has the Mongoose done recently?
Lee: Oh, not too much. Just killed three men and helped himself to five million dollars worth of stolen diamonds. It’s rumoured that he intends to start a syndicate of international hit men headed by himself. The diamonds are to finance his operation.
Amanda: Lee, I would never tell you how to do your job.

Lee: Oh?
Amanda: Okay. But this time I really think I’m right!   (ROFL!! And she is right ALOT!!! )
Now, Conrad Barnhill may not have been blessed with many of the social graces and he may have had that little dandruff problem,
but still, he was never a violent person.

Lee: Yeah, well, that’s the kid that you remember. Let me tell you about the man that became the Mongoose.
Now to date, forty-two murders throughout the world have been attributed to him.
Lee is much too fast to disregard Amanda’s history with Conrad.. the one person who knows Conrad! Amanda tells Lee what Connie is like (basically: he’s a goose! Not a mongoose!!)- but it is so quickly and easily dismissed by Lee!

I wonder if the person identifying Conrad hadn’t been Amanda.. if it had been Francine – would he have listened and kept an open mind? hmmm.. I wonder.. but once again, Amanda (and Conrad and the Mongoose!) are going to teach Lee a lesson or two!

Lee is so gung ho to catch the mongoose that he is gobbling up all the little breadcrumbs the mongoose has left him, like a rookie fresh out of training.. Come on Lee!

Amanda: And so that’s the reason the Agency brought me over here, to identify him, because you don’t have a picture of him? [Is it just me or is this whole concept ridiculous??!! not that I mind.. it brought Amanda to London! ]
Lee: Yeah, that’s about it. We found a copy of your high school yearbook. [Does anyone else imagine Lee asking to personally look at it?? so he can also secretly check out Amanda??!!!] Instead of a photo, there was a notice that he was absent.
Amanda: No, he wasn’t absent that day.
Lee: No?
Amanda: He locked himself in the chemistry lab by mistake.
Lee: Amanda, he doesn’t even have a passport photo on file.

He somehow replaced that with one of his calling cards. See, that’s his style. He’s arrogant. He’s always thumbing his nose at us.
I really don’t get this! screams he is not the mongoose and the mongoose is playing with him to me! Lee hands Amanda a Casino chip..
Amanda: You think we’ll find the Mongoose at this casino?

Lee: It’s called the Terrorist Club. That was found on the body of one of our agents.
Amanda: Oohhhh.
Love Amanda’s reaction on hearing that the chip she is holding was found on a dead body – like: ewwww I don’t want it! And she gives it back to Lee!!

Lee: That matches his lifestyle. He’s a high roller and he likes excitement.

Amanda: No, no. I just have to tell you that this is not my Connie Barnhill. He can’t be the same person.

Could Lee’s assumption that Conrad is the mongoose be because once Lee knew Conrad was Amanda’s friend from school and “my Connie Barnhill” he was suddenly even more convinced there had to be something wrong with this guy??? Or could this be because his attitude was that Amanda is just naive and what would she know- Lee is an expert on how tough life is and how people can let you down – and Amanda still hadn’t learned that lesson? Thoughts?? I’d love to hear from you!!

Well.. either way.. it is clear the Mongoose wants the authorities to go to the ‘terrorist club’ (good one!) to try and find him.. whether Lee is right and it’s Connie.. or whether Amanda is right and it’s not.. the mongoose left the casino chip on the dead body for a reason.. ( I think it was so we could enjoy another Lee in a tuxedo moment.. but.. I probably don’t have much evidence to support that opinion! LOL!! )

Bring on the Casino!!!! haaaa.. I shall leave it there! My studies are back in full force now.. so will most likely aim for smaller posts regularly darn real life getting in the way of my SMK time!!  

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byee all.. will be back with more soon- in the meantime.. any feedback? thoughts? memories of watching this episode for the first time? byeeeee!!

Welcome to Season Two!!
LOL.. Yep! Men we don’t know chasing someone we don’t know and killing people we don’t know in a way we don’t know?? What a boring start to what is actually a pretty good episode! and Eek! even worse.. what a start to season two!!
The episode opens alongside a London canal,  with an englishman talking into the collar of his jacket [ I tried talking to my collar but no one answered]. The white ear plug hanging out of his ear is ohhhhh so subtle.. What baddie could miss that??!! LOL.. there’s another guy doing the same thing! An old guy gets on a boat, where someone is wearing a wire to record a deal which is about to go down..

Three men are inside- they ask the guy’s name and he replies that people who know his name don’t tend to live very long- the old guy is buying diamonds from these men.. only he double crosses them all in the blink of an eye, he shoots all three of them before they have a clue what’s going on (or can even make a sound for the wire to pick up-LOL!) The baddie tells Inspector Keaton to come in and ‘collect his rubbish’.. uh oh..  he seems to have brought underwater breathing apparatus with him..  so he jumps into the canal and makes his successful getaway leaving a calling card: ‘The Mongoose’
Inspector Keaton: My God! It’s him! Duh duh duuuuhh…

Ok guys,  how does the Mongoose manages to shoot the three men one after the other without one of these men managing to pull out a gun or even a word in reaction?.. this was a tense hand over, surely they would have been ready for action? weird..

I’m thinking maybe this mongoose is not that clever and cunning, the agents are just incompetent! 😆

On to New Scotland yard..
Hoooo Haaaa! What an entrance Lee Stetson makes to Season two!!!

After waiting 5 months for the premier of season two, it must have been heart stoppingly good to see this sight again!  We find Lee looking gorgeous as ever – [no thanks to the disappearance of the side part!!!  UK Immigration refused it entry  on the grounds of Human dignity..]  Does anyone reading remember this season starting??? 

Lee is talking to Billy on the phone about the mongoose.. Let’s just take a moment and check out that view!!…..

Oh yeah.. and the view out the window of London isn’t bad either
Calling all readers in the UK! – I know you are out there!! Where geographically is New Scotland yard? Is it on the opposite side of the thames to the houses of Parliament?? With views of it across the way like that?

Oops.. so one of those men who was killed was an American agent (named ‘DeMarco’) who accidentally became involved with the mongoose.. thus why Lee is there I guess..
So, Mel Stewart earns his keep this week as a voice on the telephone a couple of times- not a bad gig if you can get it  

Seems a piece of paper with the name ‘ Conrad Walter Barnhill’ was found at the murder scene along with the calling card, and a casino chip.. LOL Lee makes it sound like their new lead on the mongoose is all down to this one american agent, DeMarco and all his ‘legwork’.. oh dear.. yes the british couldn’t have contributed anything? LOL..

Billy says they have a lead on this name.. someone who knows Conrad Walter Barnhill will be arriving that morning to help identify him.. Love how Billy tells Lee the flight this person will be arriving on- and hangs up without telling Lee who it is 🙂 I can just imagine Billy having a big grin on his face as he hung up on Lee!!

Doesn’t Lee look all determined and tough [but fashionable and very well groomed 😉 ] on the phone? Love how he gets so worked up pointing he makes the lamp on the desk wobble. hehehe..
Next thing we cut to Amanda- Amanda: Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. [I think the joke here is – this kind of thing always happens to Amanda!!  You can just
tell Lee is thinking- want a bet?! ] Amanda and Lee are sitting on the top of a double decker bus.. ( and going by all the sights – this looks like one of those tourist buses that goes on a loop lol! )

Amanda: I mean, I got to the airport, I went to the baggage claim, I picked up my bags, or at least what I thought were my bags. I mean, they looked like my bags, they’re brown with a stripe.

Lee can’t believe it.. just can’t believe it.. of all the people…  It’s amazing that Mr Tough Guy Lee can deal with Russian double agents, and hit men..but surprise him with Amanda in a tiss and he gets so worked up !!! She really gets to him in a way no one else does.. I bet he finds that really unsettling!

His reaction is very interesting!! Why do you think he reacts this way? I think there is more than one reason and a few clues…

Amanda: I went through customs, I got on the bus, I opened my small bag to get my hairbrush out, and look what came out.
Lee: Whoo! career girl!…. Amanda: Now look. These things belong to a Miss, um, Trixie Berlinger. (Trixie?.. ROFL!!) I’ve got to get her clothes back to her.
Lee: (Lee lets out a big sigh..) Ahhh.. Sure you want to give up this stuff? could be a whole new you! 
Hoo haa!! like to see Amanda in that red number would you Lee??!! Well.. it’s a good sign Lee’s distracted by the sexy outfit and forgets to be grumpy about Amanda’s arrival – just enough to tease Amanda about it.. Amanda’s look of horror as she realises others can see it and tries to quickly stuff it back into the bag is sooo funny!
Amanda: Lee, I’m serious. I feel terrible about this.

Lee: Amanda, I know you are sorry. You can just bet Trixie is sorry. I know I’m sorry. So do you think that we might be able to put all this sorrow behind us and get back to work, huh?

I think Lee was all excited to have a lead on the Mongoose.. only to find- uh oh.. he has to deal with Amanda and all the drama that comes with her ( drama: including his own reactions to her!) – I think he would have preferred not to deal with it.. Lee just wants to get on with the job without all of Amanda’s complications..
Amanda: I’m sorry — I mean —
It’s just that I’ve been in the same clothes for twelve hours and —
Lee: Only twelve?
Amanda: — London is such a beautiful — What do you mean “only twelve”?
Lee: ahh… Nothing, nothing. I can’t believe — You are the one who knows Conrad Walter Barnhill? [LOL poor Lee it is taking a while for him to grasp this isn’t it??!!]
Amanda: Yes. Connie Barnhill. We went to high school together. But I don’t want to see any old friends in clothes that I’ve been in for twelve hours!
Lee: Amanda, this business with Barnhill is not going to be some class reunion! He —
[Oh my.. I think Lee doesn’t seem to want Amanda worrying about what she looks like for another man!! ]
Amanda: Lee.
Lee: What?
Amanda: I have nothing to wear!!
Lee: Oookay. Okay, I will contact TWA, [plug plug!!] they’re very good [plug plug!!], and they will help you figure out this whole luggage problem. Then I will take you shopping. [Whooo hooo!]
Amanda: Oh, no.. you don’t . . . you don’t have to do that.
Lee: I insist. I can’t believe I’m insisting, but I am.
Amanda: Well, let’s just remember that this is an honest mistake. It could happen to anyone!
Lee bites his tongue here and just gives her a glare.. nooooo!!! this would not happen to just anyone!! This has Amanda King written all over it!  I think Lee is cross that once again he is doing something he can’t believe he is doing for Amanda.. she gets him to do things like no one else can Shopping!!!! While he is trying to catch the mongoose?? Lee is in work mode!! LOL!! But.. she manages to get him to do it Is it just me or did anyone else regret there wasn’t a scene of them actually shopping together? I would have preferred that to the boring set up of the mongoose we started with! LOL.. the scene ends with another plug for TWA.. did they sponsor the smk cast and crew to come to the UK or something??!!

I shall finish there.. Lee and Amanda off to do some shopping.. Lee looking after Amanda, Lee can’t help himself.. he tries to be grumpy with Amanda.. but he just can’t quite make it stick!  

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this reaction of Lee’s to Amanda’s arrival!! byeee