MURDER BETWEEN FRIENDS

Picture courtesy of Anke Lantin

Amanda is writing out her shopping list when her boys come in and ask for a Wizard Whomper toy. Amanda tells them that they're expensive but she'll see and they leave. Amanda says that she works and works but she doesn't know where the money goes. Dotty suggests she asks for a raise and Amanda agrees.

At the Agency, it looks like there is a siege going on and only Francine and Lee can save Billy. Amanda arrives just as they make a move but they grab her and carry on. They save Billy and it turns out to be an exercise and Billy tells them that they'll do it again tomorrow. In the hallway, Amanda is helped up by a man called, Byron Jordan who runs a security company.

Billy comes out and calls for everyone’s attention then tells them that President Nbouti of an East African Republic will soon be arriving for an emergency summit meeting. There are concerns that an attempt will be made on his life by a communist faction from his own country. Lee adds that the President refuses to cancel or postpone his visit and so he’ll be staying at a special diplomatic mansion. He says that Byron Jordan of Jordan Securities will be installing the system and that he was to have full co-operation. Billy continues that they only have six days so everyone will have to work double shifts. He then ends the meeting and Amanda goes over to talk to him.

Billy apologises for making her come down but he needed an unexpected element for the exercise and she was it. Amanda understands and then asks for Billy for a raise but he explains that he can’t help her as the government has just cut their funds by 15%. He walks away and then Lee goes over, followed by Byron, and Amanda tells him about the Wizard Whomper. Lee is confused and then Byron says that things have a way of working out. Amanda then leaves and Lee says he wishes he could help to which Byron replies that things change.

Meanwhile, out in the country, mercenaries paid by communist rebels are practicing breaking into the mansion to take Nbouti hostage until the rebels demands are met – otherwise they have orders to kill the President. The mercenaries ask their leader about the security system and he tells them that he’s taking care of it because he has connections.

Elsewhere, Byron has called Amanda and offered her a job as his executive assistant. Flattered, Amanda goes to his office but says that he knows nothing about her, but he says that he does as he’s spoken to her co workers and he knows she’s also nice to be around. Amanda says that she thinks the Agency needs people but Byron counters that he does too because of the summit plus he also deals with all the top government security contracts so she’d still work in conjunction with the Agency. Amanda tells him that she needs time to think as she’d be leaving some good friends. Byron assures her that there’s no pressure and then hands her the keys to her own office. She mentions about her salary and Byron tells her that he’ll double it. Amanda is amazed and then they’re interrupted by Glen Tucker, Byron’s partner – and also the leader of the mercenaries!

At the Agency, Lee, Francine and Billy hold a briefing of the summit meeting. In the middle of it, Billy receives confirmation that the rebels have hired a mercenary hit squad of three, maybe four, members. After the brief, Amanda arrives and Billy, Francine and Lee go over to talk to her. Lee starts to ask her for help but Amanda cuts him off saying that she can’t. Lee is concerned and then Amanda says that she’s only stopped by to say goodbye. She goes on to explain Byron’s offer of a job at double her salary and then says that she thinks she’s going to take it as she needs the money and then gives her resignation. Billy says that Byron is a good man, although he’s sad to see Amanda go and Francine wishes her luck. Lee, on the other hand, looks shocked and absolutely gutted.

A couple of days later, Amanda is now working for Byron and she decides to go into the Agency before work to hand in her ID and termination papers that Billy needs. When she gets there, everyone is preparing for an op. Amanda asks if this is another exercise but Lee tells her that it is the real thing. He explains that they think that the mercenaries are at Sky Valley but then Francine tells him off as it is a need to know mission and Amanda isn’t a part of the Agency any more. Lee gives Francine a look then asks Amanda if everything is going okay. She says that it is and then tells Lee again that she really had no choice but to take Byron’s offer. Lee assures her that he knows and tells her to take care. Amanda echoes his sentiment and he goes leaving an upset Amanda to stare after him.

Later, Amanda and Byron go to the mansion where Amanda makes a suggestion that Byron may include in the overall package. He then says that he has a couple more things to discuss with her and asks her to dinner. Amanda agrees and Byron tells her that he’ll arrange for the limo to pick her up at 8 o’clock that evening.

Meanwhile, at Sky Valley, Lee and the rest of the agents arrive and see someone skulking about behind the bushes – it’s Augie Swan…and he’s dressed like a cowboy. Lee asks what he’s doing there and Augie explains that he’d heard about some men who wanted supplies – flame throwers and he’s got some going cheap. When Lee realizes that Augie can’t give him any useful information, he lets him go and he and rest of the agents go back to the Agency.

That evening at dinner in Byron’s house, Amanda is feeling confused as she thought that Byron wanted to talk about business but they haven’t yet. Byron asks her what she wants to know and Amanda asks why his business is so successful. Byron replies that he has a backup system and all the codes are kept in his head so no-one will ever find them. Byron then asks her if she’s enjoying working for him and Amanda says yes, although it’s only been a day. Byron then tells her that he likes her and although he picked her because she’s the best person for the job, if anything were to happen between them, he’d consider it the icing on the cake. He goes on to say that he’s not going to push her and Amanda thanks him.

The evening over, Amanda then leaves in the limo watched by Byron who then goes back inside his house only to find Tucker standing there with another mercenary. Byron asks him what he wants and Tucker asks for the security codes. Byron refuses, saying that just because Tucker finances the company, it doesn’t mean that he can breach the security. Angry at Byron’s response, Tucker grabs a knife off of what was Amanda’s plate and stabs Byron, killing him. Tucker then orders the other mercenary to blow the safe so that the Agency thinks that the codes have been stolen and he can then install the system from new.

The next day, Dotty and the boys go out and the doorbell rings. It’s the police who have come to arrest Amanda for Byron’s murder. Later, Lee goes to Byron’s office to check the blueprint of the system when Tucker walks in. They face off and Tucker derides Amanda but Lee sticks up for her saying that he knows her and she’d never kill anyone, no matter what the evidence. Tucker backs down and apologises then they talk about the system and Tucker leads Lee along to the idea of providing a new system. Lee agrees and so Tucker gets started.

At the police station, Amanda shares a cell with a woman called Wilma, who tells Amanda that she’s strangled her fella. She asks Amanda about her murder and she says that it was a dining room table knife to which Wilma replies, ‘kinky’. Amanda denies killing Byron and then Lee arrives. Wilma takes a look at Lee and asks Amanda if he is her ‘bit on the side’ which causes Lee to smile. Amanda introduces Lee and then the warden takes Wilma away so that Lee and Amanda can talk. When they’re alone, Lee asks Amanda what she was doing at Byron’s and Amanda tells him she was there for dinner and to talk about business. Lee is dubious and she admits that Byron said that he liked her. Lee asks if she told the police that and Amanda says yes. Lee then tells her that by saying that, she’s just handed the police a motive – crime of passion. Amanda denies that anything occurred and then asks what will happen now. Lee says that she’ll need a god lawyer and that she’s been released into his custody so they then leave.

Amanda goes home and Dotty’s worried about where she’s been. Amanda tells her that she’s been in jail. Dotty thinks it’s about work but Amanda explains that she was arrested for murder. Dotty is shocked and then Amanda goes outside to get her washing in and finish the chores she couldn’t because she was in jail. Once out there Lee appears out of nowhere to surprise her. He tells her that he knows a good criminal lawyer called Dewey Lawrence who can help her but she’ll have to go back to the police station. Amanda is afraid that she’ll go back to prison but Lee tells her not to worry and that he will get her out of this mess. His assurance makes her feel a little better and then he goes.

The next day, Tucker tells his men that a new system has been installed but the Agency is on alert. Isley and Coltan leave to go to the mansion but he keeps Walters back and tells him that he wants Amanda taken care of because the Agency and the police are still investigating the murder and they could be found out. Tucker tells him to make it look like a suicide.

That night, Tucker and Walters sit outside Amanda’s house. Dotty does up to have a shower after her workout while Amanda takes the rubbish out. Once outside, Tucker and Walters grab and chloroform her. Tucker tells Walters to find her car keys and then they put her in her car in the garage, start the engine and leave it running. Walters puts rags at the bottom of the garage door to stop fumes escaping, then they both walk out and leave her to die.

Luckily for Amanda, Lee stops by and on the way around to the back of her house he hears the engine running. He hurries over to the garage, opens the door and finds Amanda slumped over the steering wheel. He gets her out and she comes to after a few seconds and they realise that someone wanted Amanda’s death to look like a suicide so that the investigation would be dropped.

The day of Nbouti’s arrival dawns and Amanda is at the Agency where Billy asks her what she and Byron talked about. When she’s not much help, Lee says that at least there’s a new system in. Amanda’s surprised and Francine tells her that they were worried that someone might have got the code and so they decided to put in the new system. Amanda then explains that Byron was the only one who knew the codes as he memorized them. It then falls into place for Lee that Tucker must be behind everything. Amanda explains that there’s an emergency operating system that could bypass some of the sensors. Lee asks where they are and Amanda tells him that it’d be easier to show him. They all leave to go to the mansion where the reception party is in full swing.

The mercenaries also arrive at the mansion and climb over the perimeter fence. Isley and Coltan take out a guard and Tucker says that once he’s inside, he’ll reset the system to his own code so that the Agency people won’t be able to get in without setting off the alarms. They get in and take everyone hostage and Nbouti tells them that he’d die before he’ll give in to them and Tucker says that he’ll be a TV star first.

By the time that Lee, Amanda, Billy and Francine arrive, Tucker has reset the system and called the TV station. Lee checks out the situation then runs back to tell the others what he’s seen and asks Amanda to override the system. She presses the appropriate buttons and tells them that the system will be deactivated for only 60 seconds. Billy, Francine and Lee run off just as Walters and Tucker run outside. Francine takes out Walters but Tucker heads over to Amanda and takes her hostage.

Billy gets into the mansion and disarms Isley then Lee gets in and is just sizing up the situation when Tucker appears with Amanda and orders Lee to drop his gun. Lee obeys then walks up to Amanda and Tucker who are standing by a suit of armour. Suddenly, Amanda grabs the axe and whacks the gun from Tuckers’ hand then Lee and he fight. In the middle of their confrontation, Augie walks out of a room and they push him out of the way causing him to fall over the balcony and on top of Coltan down below. Immediately, the hostages grab some dropped guns and Coltan is captured. Lee and Tucker continue to fight then Lee knocks him over the balcony as well and he ends up landing on the dessert table face down in the cake. Francine and Billy then take him away.

The next day at the Agency, Lee and Billy are laughing over Augie’s picture in the paper when Amanda arrives. She says that she got a message that Billy wanted to see her and he asks how she feels being a free woman again. Amanda says that she feels great and then Lee says that they have some good news. Amanda looks hopeful but Billy tells her that Nbouti’s stay was successful and he returned home safely. Amanda is her usual nice self when she hears this news but it’s obvious that she’d hoped to hear something else. However, Lee doesn’t disappoint her, and says that he has some good news too. He pauses then asks her if she wants her old job back. Amanda is extremely happy to be asked, especially when Lee adds that she’ll be getting a raise. Obviously accepting the job, Amanda thanks them profusely and Billy says she deserves it before walking off.

Amanda turns to Lee and asks how he managed to get her her old job back with a raise considering all the Agency expense cuts. Before he can answer, an extremely angry Francine walks over and holds out a piece of paper asking if Lee’s seen it. Lee queries what it is and she tells him it’s a memo stating that her undercover clothing budget has been cut in half and she’s just bought a new dress for a gala. Lee looks uncomfortable and Amanda looks away as Francine snatches the memo from Lee’s hand and informs them that she’s going to talk to Billy. She walks off then Lee and Amanda look at each other and begin to laugh – Francine’s budget cut is Amanda’s new raise!

SCENE'S TO WATCH OUT FOR

Lee crashing through Billy’s window to ‘rescue’ him only to have Billy tell him to come through the door next time.

Amanda resigning from the Agency.

Amanda going back to the Agency to hand in her termination papers and seeing Lee.

Amanda in jail.

Augie trying to sell female boxing to Nbouti – he even shows him a brochure!

Tag.

ROMANCE

The entire time Amanda is contemplating leaving the Agency, her main concern and upset is about leaving Lee. She tells Byron that she’d be leaving ‘good friends’ behind if she left but it’s obvious that Lee’s the main person she really cares about leaving…and apparently, he’s just as upset that she decides to leave too. As usual, Lee goes into complete denial and doesn’t say anything – especially since Billy and Francine are there too - but his expression clearly says it all when she makes her announcement. He’s gutted, absolutely gutted. He tries to smile and wish her luck but you can see his shock…and hurt. Amanda doesn’t fare much better and her faltering attempt at an explanation is sad to see.

After Amanda resigns and then returns to hand in a couple of forms, she sees Lee and again tries to explain the reason she left. We can see just how much she didn’t want to leave and even Lee seems to sense it as he asks if she’s alright. She says yes but it’s a forlorn figure that’s left standing behind when Lee leaves to try and find the mercenaries.

The affection between the two is clear for everyone to see if they choose to and Billy was always was more perceptive than they realized – watch the way he looks at Lee when Amanda gives her resignation. Although nothing was actually said between the two, I think Lee got another real smack up the head in regards to how he felt about her. Still not convinced he’d actually admitted his feelings to himself at that point, but I believe he knew it wasn’t purely friendship he felt.

Also felt there was a slight touch of jealousy when Lee asked Amanda what she was doing at Byron’s and is suspicious about Byron’s intentions which Amanda eventually confirms. He doesn’t seem very happy and is slightly aloof to Amanda when he’s talking to her, whether this is because of the fact that she left the Agency or didn’t wait long before she appeared to be having a romantic dinner with her new boss though is anyone’s guess.

When Lee goes to see Amanda in her garden, he’s explains that he knows a good criminal lawyer and is quick to reassure her to not worry and tells her that he will get her out of the mess. His thoughtfulness and caring attitude go a long way to soothe her upset and also show how much he cares.

So, another step forward in their relationship which is nicely sealed by the way they share the joke at Francine’s expense at the end – so completely opposite to how it used to be when he and Francine would be laughing at Amanda. Something tells me that Lee may have given Billy the idea for her raise! Anything to get her back, eh? ;)

QUOTES

BILLY: Amanda, were you killed?

AMANDA: Uh, no Sir.

BILLY: Good for you.

AMANDA: Well, Byron Jordan offered me a job as his executive assistant at double my salary.

FRANCINE: Oh, nice touch.

DOTTY: I never liked the idea of you working for IFF. I mean, they should have moved you up, given you something challenging to do. I think you're gonna find this new job much more exciting.

AMANDA: I hope not.

AUGIE: That's not just an ordinary hat my friend. That happens to be a Hoss Cartwright original.

LEE: Oh is it? Well, you'd better be hungry, my friend, because you're going to be eating this Hoss Cartwright original if you don't give me a straight answer.

LEE: Now, you tell me straight. Do you know anything about the guys who were training out here? Anything at all?

AUGIE: Well the word is…they're not very nice people.

LEE: Thanks for the insight.

DOTTY: Amanda they could blame you.

AMANDA: Mother, they do blame me. That's why I was in jail.

LEE: I think I've ruined the dessert.

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