Tag Archives: Scarecrow and Mrs King

So, the green dragon is dead, their lead for clearing Amanda has come to a literal dead end! this must be the episode low point! Anyway, back to Billy’s office..
[LOL Billy seems to have caught up with the modern 80s era and has a new big computer on his desk! I’ve not seen that before.. wasn’t there in Billy’s Lost weekend!]
Mrs. Frampton: Why are your people, one of whom is on suspension, interfering with my investigation?
Lee: Actually, we weren’t there on your investigation. We have been after Darrell Perry for a long time now.
[Oh Lee. who would actually by that?!]
Mrs. Frampton: Fourteen years. Except – that the Justice Department and the FBI suspended him from their active list in – ’81.
[I think she’s having too much fun!]
Lee: They did? Let me see that.
[lol Lee plays up to his Scarecrow code name!]
Amanda: It’s alright, Lee. Mrs. Frampton, I went to talk to Mr. Perry unofficially because I thought he could clear me. I take full responsibility.
Lee: More precisely, I ordered Mrs. King to accompany me as a backup. I take responsibility.

Amanda: No.
[Awhhhh these two!! each falling on their sword to protect the other!! They are both gonna get slayed – quick Billy do something!!]
Billy: Hold it, people. I take responsibility around here, remember? Now, what started out to be just an internal Agency review has turned into a murder investigation. That makes it Agency business. We’ll keep you fully informed, Ms Frampton. Fully.
Mrs. Frampton: All for one? Well, that’s normal…

…I do admit that there’s a hidden agenda behind all this, which makes the case against Mrs. King even more disturbing.
…You’re on the spot. I’m not unsympathetic but don’t step on my tail again. Do you understand me?..

…I’m trying to help you, Amanda. Just don’t trip me up.
[yeahhhh I don’t think the ‘I’m trying to help you’ approach is really going to hold at this point!]
(Frampton makes her exit. Billy really doesn’t pay her much mind lol. He moves right now!)
Billy: All right. What do we have?
Lee: That newspaper was no mistake. It was a plant.
[well derr. Ahem. Sorry.]
Billy: Why? [really?! whahahhhaaaaa]
Lee: To suspend her. To distract us. She is onto something and she doesn’t even know it.
[hoorah. Why, Scarecrow has figured it out!]
Billy: That means that someone would have to know that you were up for review. Who might that be?
Amanda: Statik Aerospace is the only thing I’m working on, sir. It’s a class assignment.
[LOL that certainly narrows things down nicely!]
Billy looks up Statik Aerospace on his trusty suddenly up and running computer..
[which lol explains why he suddenly had a computer on his desk!]
(The screen reads:)
Billy: They have contracts to monitor a number of spy satellites. They’re also building the HK-86.
[Whoooooaaaa not the HK 86!!!! really??!!]
Amanda: Yes, sir. The first space weapon of the 21^st century. It’s a hunter-killer satellite.
[Ummm is this a reference to the Reagan Star Wars project?]
Lee: She has stuck her finger into somebody’s pie over at Statik Aerospace and they have started a smear campaign to get her out of the way.
[Lee’s excited. too cute]
Billy: Alright. You find out who “they” are. If they’re inside the hunter-killer space project, we’ve got big trouble. Do it.
[I so want to hear Billy say – hunt them and kill them!!!! but errr that isn’t really Billy’s style.]
Amanda: Yes, sir.
(Lee and Amanda leave his office.)

Next thing we see is Williamson’s office back at Statik Aerospace. Yep, time for anoooother phone call.
Williamson: This is Jake. It’s set for tonight. I’ll need about four hours of overtime.
Janitor No. 1: So what about the woman from the Agency? You should have put her out of her misery.
[looks like Mr Bored baddie is the one who needs to be put out of his misery]
Williamson: Did you ever hear the expression “setting the cat amidst the pigeons?” Well, you kill an agent, the roof falls in. This way they’re more confused than ever…
[Ugh.. yep we have one of those I’m too clever for my own good baddies happening here.]
…What are they going to do in the next 24 hours?
[lol. way too confident in his smug genius to worry about saying this phrase out loud – totally tempting fate haaaaa.. famous last words!]
Janitor: I’m going to leave the strategy to you. We’re ready at this end.
[in other words, spare me the bragging about your awesome plan haa]
Williamson: Well, we’ll wrap it up tomorrow and be on our way.
So what do you all think of this baddie? He has a great glare, but I find it pretty boring.. oh wait, no wonder this baddie just keeps looking bored.

Moving on and we see Lee trying to catch up with Beaman.
Lee: Ephraim, I want the Statik Aerospace files. Come on.
Beaman: That’s just busywork for your protégée. Why?
[I kind of like the vibe between these two. Others may not see it the way I do (and that’s cool!) but for me, there’s animosity. Beaman doesn’t want to make things easy for Lee. I can’t remember what episode I originally thought this in.. but I have a theory that Beaman wants to be Lee Stetson and thus he finds him irritating! lol.]
Lee: Because that busywork just turned into a full-scale flap.
[I like to complain when characters sit around talking, or talk on the phone a lot.. but this walking and talking makes it tough to get a clear image! I’m so hard to please lol]
Beaman: Fine. I still need an E15 requisition, filled out in triplicate and signed by our superior. She’s suspended, you recall?
[Love the body language on Lee. Ahhh you you.. Pencil Pusher!!!
Time for Lee to pull out the big guns! Lee’s done playin!]
Lee: Thursday, 10:15 p.m., you and Roxanne from Accounting in the copier room,..

the lights off, your tie off, and your shoes off.
[…. and Beaman – getting off! rofl. The delivery here is flippin hilarious!]
(Beaman looks around to check no one else is listening.) [Ahem, he probably should have done that last Thursday night ha! Again, smk does the smut in such a cute way! His shoes and tie were off?! ohhhhh wink wink. Lee’s delivery is hilarious!!]
Beaman: Tell you what. I’m going down the hall to get a cup of noodle soup out of the vending machine.
Lee: Mm.
Beaman: My office is unlocked.
[Hmm I think Lee enjoyed this. Don’t mess with him if it’s hurting Amanda!!!!]

Back to Lee’s apartment.
[Well my my my… His tie is off.. his shoes are off.. Ahem.]
Lee’s on the phone with Billy (yep anoooother phone call!)
[Look out people. The Work Health & Safety folks are on their way to give Amanda a talking to! I mean.. look at those wrists!!! gah!!! Isn’t it funny to see how big the hard drive is haaaa.. ]
Lee: Okay, Billy. It was worth a try. Yeah, I’ll talk to you later. Bye…
(He hangs up)
… Your security guy Tanner did a top-to-bottom at Statik Aerospace. [‘your security guy Tanner’? I thought he was Lee’s security guy from the first review. lol. I guess Sam is Tanner. He wasn’t actually named in the previous scene. Whatever. The Jerk was the guy who Lee was saying to trust back in the restaurant.]
Amanda: Uh-huh.
Lee: Tight as a drum and nothing missing. (Lee walks over to sit on the couch.)
[okay okay he is still wearing his shoes! I checked haaaa- I check the important stuff okay! I’m silly and I know it. ]
(Lee watches Amanda for a moment.)
[Oh my. The way he looks at her is so adoring and lovely!]
(Then he leans behind her to embrace her.
Amanda holds his hand and gives his hand a sweet kiss,
So he follows up with a neck kiss and cuddle.)

[Still, she keeps her eyes on the computer. My goodness she is a strong woman!]
(Amanda starts to stretch her neck, and Lee gives her shoulder a squeeze)
Amanda: Hm. Tsk. Mm.
(Lee starts massaging her shoulders)
Lee: You are tight.
[Told ya the work health and safety people would be interested! lol]
Amanda: Yeah, I – uh.
Lee: You know, in some circles I have what are referred to as “magic fingers.”
[Oh. My. Gosh. Did he just say??? Yeah he just said that!!!!! tee hee. Would have been a great code name Lee.]
Lee: In fact, the same neck rub once prompted a member of a particular royal family into making me an indelicate offer.
[Oh boy, Leeeeeee!! No wonder Amanda isn’t nosey about your history haaaa. I kinda love that Amanda keeps her eyes on the computer. And this is her light bulb moment. tee hee.. guess those fingers really are magic!]
(We see realization dawn on Amanda’s face)
Amanda: Look at this.
(Amanda points at the computer screen)
Lee: What?
Amanda: I think I see a pattern here. Alright. We have a dead security guard, a lot of floor wax and janitors, right?
Lee: Uh-huh.
Amanda: Now, the security guard was killed with a piece of equipment that janitors use to wax floors. He was electrocuted, right?
Lee: Mm-hm.
Amanda: Okay. Plant maintenance. You determine your plant maintenance by the number of men who work plus the hours that they work.
Lee: Ah, we’re back to the floor wax.
Amanda: That explains this.
Lee: Okay…
…Grime Busters is billing Statik Aerospace for 57 janitors. Statik personnel has been carrying 60 for the past 3 months.
Amanda: So you’ve got three extra men, and I don’t know what they’re doing, but I don’t think they’re waxing floors. [waxing lyrical perhaps. On the telephone!] [I reckon I need someone to explain this to me, I must be missing something here! I get that they are showing the difference between the 60 and the 57. But, isn’t grime busters and janitors the same thing? Why two different entries?
Seems to me billing 60 grime busters and then 57 janitors is doubling up for 57 janitors? Aie..  Plus the table talks about units not people. if this were legit this table is saying grime busters workers were paid $9.50 an hour and in total worked 60 hours. Or is that 60 workers who worked 1 hour? haaaa.. I have no idea.
I’ll do what I always do.Eventually:  Amanda is clever. I’ll go with whatever Amanda said. Three extra men. Got it!

It’s funny, we actually only saw two men working for grime busters who were baddies. Williamson isn’t going to bill for himself too is he?! greedy so and so. He probably is! Aie, my head hurts.

What am I doing worrying about 60 vs. 57. Lee and Amanda are sharing some sweet sweet lovin. Mr Magic Fingers is recounting indelicate offers! Me like. more of that please.]

Well, I better pause here and try to recover.. maths and magic fingers are a lot to take in at once. Clearly I’m not as strong as Amanda! Any thoughts? comments? insights?

We see a view of a college campus, hearing a voice over from Lee.. [Yep, another one… Lots of voice overs and phone calls in this ep. What’s going on??!!! weird!]
Lee: I hear the campus cops kept pretty extensive files on ‘70s demonstrations. Let’s see what else they have.

(Interior of college security office.)
Lee: Mr. Sims, I’m Lee Steadman. This is Amanda Keene.
Amanda: Hello. We’re from the state comptroller’s office, part of the budgetary task force I’m sure you’ve heard about.
Mr. Sims: We’re always glad to help out the folks that write the checks.
Amanda: Oooh.
Lee: We don’t write ‘em, we stop ‘em.
[LOL time to turn the screws huh!]
Amanda: Mm-m.
Lee: And the task force intends to downscale this operation.
Mr. Sims: D- Downscale? What is that?

Amanda: Well, it’s part of the basic laws of economics. Fewer students, higher costs, fewer parents able to pay tuition.
Lee: Mm. What she means to say is, you can’t squeeze blood from a stone.
Amanda: Absolutely.
Mr. Sims: Well, you’re looking at the wrong place to cut back. We are overworked and understaffed as it is. Now, we got fifteen, twenty balls in the air simultaneously, huh? Come over here….

…Now, look at this. That’s a daily log of campus activities…
[As Lee takes a look at what Sims wanted, Amanda sneaks into a filing cabinet, opens the top drawer..

it must be a very quiet and well maintained filing cabinet drawer! What file is second from the top? The file she is after. Ohhh What luck! “1972 Disturbance and Unrest.”) Okay, I guess the agency was just there looking at it so maybe that could be possible! ]
…We’ve got ‘em back to the ‘50s. Now, check it out.
[lol how convenient!]
…We’re always busy with something. And that’s just the past 48 hours.
(Amanda almost gets busted snooping.. but not quite. Lee keeps him distracted)
Lee: Uh, what’s this one here?
Mr. Sims: Uh, well, that would be R.D. Frampton from IFF. It’s a documentary film company.
Lee: Ah-hah.
Mr. Sims: And we get a lot of those. [lol yeah I’ll bet he does. these agency background checks basically keep Mr. Sims in a job!]
(Lol Lee snaps the log book shut in Sims’ face to distract him from looking at what Amanda’s up to. You know, this episode is not kind to security guards!)
Lee: I see.  You know, I’m thinking that a computer would save us a bundle around here. Mm.
Mr. Sims: You don’t understand. These things have to be done in person. Now, we verify every signature to make sure nobody gets nothin’ they shouldn’t oughta have…
(Amanda gives Lee a smile. She has what she needs and follows that up with an a-okay hand gesture. which is rewarded with a Lee wink. Nice.)
(His winks are fabulous, but as a still image, they look weird lol)
…Look. Off the record, how many of my boys do you think I stand to lose?
Lee: My friend, here’s the deal. The retirement fund is killing us. We want to lose some people.
[Sims looks terrified. Awh I actually feel kinda sorry for him! even if he does only work with ‘boys’! I know I know.. this is an 80s thing.. the music signals this is for laughs but terrorizing a random security guard is a bit harsh no?! He looks like he’s about to have a heart attack. I hope the health fund is up to date. ]
Mr. Sims: Lose them? Hey, you’re talking about guys like me. You can’t do that. We got a union.
(they head straight for the door, time for a quick getaway)
Amanda: We’ll put that in our report, yes, we will.
Lee:  Ha.
(Lee and Amanda exit rapidly )
[SMK doesn’t tend to treat security guards well. lol. yeah maybe he should take that to his union!]

Moving on.. Lee and Amanda are walking…
Lee: What did you come up with?
Amanda: Aw, a list of demonstrators. Some of them were ID’d by surveillance photos from ’71, ’72. I didn’t recognize any of the names except for the Green Dragon.
Lee: The Green Dragon?
Amanda: Yeah. That’s all anybody ever called him. He was the campus agitator.
Lee: He just might be the guy to say you never had any part of this. How do we find a Green Dragon?
Amanda: I don’t know. Maybe the editor of The Skwak.
[Okay! Find editor of skwak, then find Green dragon. Sounds like a name for weed..]
(Lee opens the door for Amanda. awhhhh)

(“Sparkman Publications.” Lee and Amanda pull up in the Corvette and park in front.)
[Getting out of the car you can hear the chime that Lee’s keys are still in the car. lol. Interior light is still on too. lol. ]
Lee: Sparkman Publications, huh?
Amanda: Hello.
Sparkman: Good afternoon. What can I do for you?
Amanda: Well, we’re looking for Abbie Sparkman.
Lee: Yeah.
Sparkman: How can I help you?
Amanda: You’re the same Abbie Sparkman who used to publish The Skwak?
Sparkman: With the beard and the hair? Yeah, that’s me. I traded in the dreadlocks and earrings for this. But inside, I’m still the same Abbie.
Amanda: Uh-huh.
Sparkman: Please, have a seat. Do you want a jelly bean? My favourite’s Tequila Sunrise.
Lee: No. Thanks. Uh, we’re Steadman and Keen of the law firm Steadman and Keen…
[Okay, now that just sounds lame! lol. Hey I guess we can add ‘cheesy alias use’ to the bingo game! ]
…We recently won an important decision against the Sendrex Corporation.
Sparkman: The napalm boys?
Amanda: Yes. And tear gas. They used to use a lot of it on some of the more radical campuses in the ‘60s.

Lee: Yeah, that’s right. Now, Abbie, we’re looking for some more names of possible victims. All you had to do was even be touched by that tear gas. You know what I’m saying? A hefty, uh –
Amanda: — settlement.
Lee: Yes.
[Look at the body language here. awhhh I know they are playing a cover, but it screams ‘we are an awesome team!’ ]
Sparkman: Right on.
Amanda: We were wondering if we could look at some of the back issues of the newspaper.
Sparkman: Heh. You’ve gotta be kidding. When I was working on that paper, we didn’t think there’d be a future. Nobody thought about back issues. I think a guy named Wide Body Banks has them in his van.
Amanda: Okay. Do you happen to know where we might be able to find a guy called the Green Dragon? Do you remember him?
Sparkman: No. He’s been underground a long time.
Lee: Oh, that’s too bad. We’re paying a substantial finder’s fee. Tsk.
(Sparkman has a think for a second..)
Sparkman: You’re not cops, right?
Amanda: Nah, ch.
Lee: Heh.
Sparkman: I could make a few calls, see if he’s around. If he is and if he’s interested, I could set up a meet.
Lee: You could do that?
Sparkman: For a substantial finder’s fee.
[LOL he’s quite the activist ahem.]
(Amanda and Lee exit the door of Sparkman Publications to the sidewalk along with Sparkman.) Sparkman: Wait for me in front of the Beaux Arts Theater on Fifth. All right?
Lee: Yeah. Sure.
(Sparkman walks away down the street and Amanda and Lee get into the Corvette. As Lee gets into the driver’s side, we see Williamson waiting in a car just across the street from the Corvette.
Williamson starts his engine and follows the Corvette.)
[whoooooo hey can a guy with only one eye drive? seems a bit dangerous having no peripheral vision on one side? Whatev. this dude is bad!!!!!]

(Lee and Amanda standing in front of the theater box office.)
Amanda: I saw my first Truffaut film here.
Lee: Well, I wonder if “Leather Kittens” is, uh, Bergman or Truffaut?
[rofl!!!!! I love that Amanda looks.. uncomfortable, but there is no more of that “I told you about the Lonely Hearts Patrol, didn’t I?” from Lee. –remember that?!- She may not be comfortable but she knows it exists, and he isn’t talking down to her about it either.]
Sparkman: Come on in. He wants to have a look…

…If he likes what he sees, he’ll talk. He said I can tell you his name’s Darrell Perry.
(Sparkman leads Lee and Amanda around to the side of the building. We see Williamson sitting in his car, staring no.. glaring after them.)
[ This guy is the master of the evil squint! Muahahaha. One eye is all he needs to do it!]

(Sparkman, Lee and Amanda enter the darkened theater .)
[LOL why is someone in there reading the newspaper?! haa ]

Sparkman: Listen, why don’t you have a seat, enjoy the film. I’ll be right back.
{Lee and Amanda stand in the side aisle and speak sotto voce to each other.}
Lee: We’re going to have to handle this guy Perry very carefully. He’s been underground for fourteen years so we’re going to have to win his confidence.
(Lee and Amanda watch Sparkman approach Perry)(Shifts back to Lee and Amanda.)
Lee gets a little distracted when he catches sight of the film.
Amanda slaps him in the stomach!

[Well he did warn her has a healthy sex drive. But isn’t this kind of situation prime SMK guys?! I mean it’s all implied, a bit cheeky and all within character. I wonder if this was in the script and if it differed. Anyone care to look? If so, please share what you find?]

Lee gives Amanda a glare. Alright alright!
Lee: All right. Let’s get him out of here, okay? You get him back to Sparkman’s office.
[the images are not the greatest, but with the low lighting it’s the best I can do]
Amanda: Thank you very much.
Amanda gives the screen a quick glance. So does Lee..

tee hee… she really reeeeeaaally wants to get out of there!
[Cue the cheesy porno music.]
(Movie dialog:)
Woman: Oh, yes.
Man: Welding?
[Oh my. I cannot watch this scene without getting the giggles!! how about you?! Welding! ]
(Sparkman approaches. He returns to Lee and Amanda.)

Sparkman: He just has a changeover to make. He’ll be right out. If you need me, you know where to find me, right?
Lee: Right.
{Williamson comes into the theater. He throws a grenade in the projection room.
It explodes into fire. People yelling “Let’s get out of here.” We see Lee and Amanda on the floor, Lee shielding and holding Amanda.}
Lee directs Amanda to leave and call the fire dept, then the agency. Amanda heads off to do that, while Lee approaches the back room. He finds Darrell Perry dead.

[Uh oh. Well you guys have done it now. I mean you led Williamson straight to him! They don’t seem to be good at noticing when they are being followed lol. I guess if Lee and Amanda were there, it can place even more suspicion on them now. double uh oh. No idea if that’s what comes to pass or what. I don’t watch ahead when writing up blog posts. which lol is probably glaringly obvious to you guys given some of the dumb stuff I say haaaaa! ]

Soooo anyone got any thoughts they’d like to share? I heard about this little moment in the theatre long before I ever actually got to see it – and it totally lived up to the hype!! Top shelf SMK!!!