WAITING FOR GODORSKY

Picture courtesy of Anke Lantin

Eastern Bloc agents, Sigrid and Antov have come to America on a mission. They act, talk and look like US citizens, having been trained to blend in until their job is finished. They are there to assassinate Princess Valosky, a woman who is very outspoken against her countries tyranny. Their boss, Babak informs them that they have an inside contact on her household staff, a man called Mikhail, who will aid them. They set up surveillance in the house opposite and wait.

Amanda and Dotty go to an estate sale at the mansion of Princess Valosky. They chat with their hostess unaware of who she is, and then leave after Amanda purchases a cameo. Later that night, she and her mother discuss the Princess and conclude that she must need the money because her husband has either left her or died.

The next day, Amanda decides to take over a meat loaf and a poppyseed cake to the Princess. She's just on her way out when Billy calls and asks her to come into the Agency. Some of the descriptions for the sounds she hears in the background of a phone call she transcribed won't program into the computer. One such description is a slurping sound and Amanda tells them that the sounds is from bad bridgework. They mention a couple more things and the Billy tells her that they need the entire document checked that day. She explains that she was off to see a friend, so Lee joins her and they continue trawling through the document while she drives.

Meanwhile, Babak has met with Mikhail and handed over some money. He explains that the Princess must die within 48 hours before she can speak to the Senate committee as the meeting will have an affect on whether, Leonid Godorsky, a political prisoner under house arrest, may be freed. Mikhail says that he hasn't yet got a plan to get the two agents in but he will think of something.

Back in the car, Lee and Amanda are discussing the transcript and he explains that the conversation was picked up over a wave scanner. This means that they can't pinpoint the location. He then goes on to tell her about spy master, Babak and the Agency's suspicions that he has brought an assassin team into the US. The problem is that the Agency doesn't know who the target is.

They pull up at Princess Valosky's mansion and Lee question why Amanda has brought someone who lives there a meat loaf. Amanda tells him that looks can be deceiving and he rings the doorbell. Amanda asks to see the lady of the house and Lee is shocked when he recognises the Princess.

They are invited in and have tea with the Princess who then explains that she needs the money from the sale to help get Leonid Godorsky out of his country and into the US. Tea over with, she then asks them both to luncheon with some of her closest friends that afternoon. Having also mentioned that she has an important announcement to make, Lee is more than happy to accept.

Back at the Agency, Billy reads over the transcript and they discuss the possibility of the Princess being the target. Initially, Billy doesn't think it is her but then they inform him that she has a big announcement and its possible connection to Godorsky and he changes his mind.

That afternoon at the luncheon, the Princess announces her intended meeting with the Senate and that she's certain Godorsky will be freed with their help. While they toast the news, Amanda hears Mikhail slurp through his teeth just like she heard on the tape she transcribed but doesn't realise who it is. The doorbell rings and Mikhail goes to answer it. It's Antov, holding a bouquet of flowers and a large gold box. He walks by the dining room, then drops the flowers and pulls a machine gun out of the box. Lee sees him and yells at everyone to get down as he throws himself over the table and slams the door shut in Antov's face. The gunshots splinter through the door and then Antov runs off.

The police turn up and while they help clear up the mess, Amanda takes Lee outside to tell him that she heard the 'slurper'. Lee says they can't do anything because if they search everyone in the room then the assassins would know that the Agency are on to them.

Later, Billy, Lee and Amanda leave the Princess' house, frustrated that she won't let them leave people for her protection. They're convinced it's an inside job and Billy decides to cover the house from every possible angle on the outside instead.

That evening, Dotty wants to hear all about the lunch Amanda had, but she puts her mother off and asks about her driving lessons instead.

Next day in a Washington park, Mikhail and Babak meet. Mikhail assures Babak that the Princess will be dead by the afternoon.

Amanda arrives at the Agency and Lee tells her that they've figured out that Mikhail's the slurper. To get confirmation, Francine followed him and saw him meet with Babak. Lee then tells Amanda that as the Princess likes her, he needs her to come with him to convince her to cancel the meeting with the Senate.

The Princess leaves the estate on her way to the meeting with an Agency vehicle in tow. Babak takes the Agency car out leaving Antov and Sigrid to pursue the Princess. Agents capture Babak but he claims diplomatic immunity.

In a nearby street, Dotty is out with her driving instructor, Howard, having a lesson. She sees the Princess drive by and stops in the middle of an intersection to try and turn around. Confusion ensues resulting in Antov and Sigrid crashing into an oncoming car.

Lee and Amanda turn up and he stops the Porsche a little way down the road to try and see what's happening. Amanda sees her mother and ducks down in the car so as not to be noticed. Lee spots Antov and gets out of the car then runs over to him. Antov sees him and runs away with Lee giving chase while Sigrid runs in the opposite direction. Lee catches Antov and lands a punch the the Eastern Bloc agents jaw, knocking him out. Sigrid runs towards the Porsche then sees an agent after her. She goes around to the passenger side where Amanda, still ducked down out of sight, throws open the car door causing Sigrid to filp over it and fall to the ground where the chasing agent grabs her.

Lee comes back to the car with Antov and hands him over to a waiting agent. The agents walk off with their prisoners and Lee makes sure that Amanda is OK.

Presumably a few weeks later, Lee and Amanda are attending a party at Princess Valosky's house where Leonid Godorsky is the guest of honour. While there, the Princess presents Lee and Amanda with medals for their service to the royal house of Valosky.

SCENE'S TO WATCH OUT FOR:

Amanda trying to explain the descriptions she wrote down regarding the phone call transcript to Lee and Billy.

Amanda trying to keep to the proper protocol while having lunch with the Princess.

Amanda trying to stop Dotty from finding out what happened at the luncheon.

Amanda trying to hide in the Porsche so that her mother doesn't see her.

Tag.

ROMANCE:

Not a whole heck of a lot at all, unfortunately. There wasn't even any cute scene's between the two really, which is disppointing especially as it's the end of season one. Of course any scene that's just them is nice, so the part where they are in the car together as Amanda drives to the Princess' house is good. Nice rapport between the two and Lee does concede that her clues from the tape are helpful. A step forward to his usual stance.

The tag scene is nice, although not exactly romantic. Lee is quite attentive which is sweet and tells Amanda that she did well on the case. Amanda responds by shyly complimenting him on his agenting skills, making her admiration for him very clear and he's pleased she thinks so.

So, after this season we're pretty much left with the feeling that they're becoming fast friends who are very trusting of each other. I also feel that, at this point, Amanda was the more smitten of the two although I do think it comes across that there's a certain amount of hero-worship mixed in with her feelings for Lee. She does like him for the man he is but the excitement he brings is also attractive.

I think that Lee has also had the first stirrings of love, but thought of it as just a passing attraction which would leave when she did as he undoubtedly expected her too. She does get to him when his guard is down and she's certainly made him care again…especially about her, but he's got a long way to go before he realises that she's the one for him.

QUOTES:

AMANDA: I'm sorry, Lee, I just couldn't remember. I think it's Mrs. Marsden. She's a very nice lady, but I think she must intimidate me.

LEE: She intimidates everybody, it's her job.

AMANDA: Well, I have a pretty logical mind.

LEE: Yeah, you do.

AMANDA: Yeah.

LEE: At one time or another.

LEE: Amanda!

AMANDA: Hello.

FRANCINE: Well, look who remembered the password.

AMANDA: No, actually, I didn't. Someone must have spoken to Mrs. Marsden. She just sort of looked disgusted and waved me on through.

AMANDA: I think I heard the sound that I heard on the tape. Wait a minute (she slurps), that little sound that was on the tape.

LEE: Yeah, are you absolutely sure?

AMANDA: Pretty sure, I'm fairly positive. I would say…it sounded like the sound…yes, I', pretty sure.

LEE: (laughing) You'd make a terrific witness, Amanda, really.

AMANDA: Do you think she saw me?

LEE: I think your mother has a lot of other things on her mind right now.

AMANDA: She's learning how to drive.

LEE: No she isn't.

(Amanda looks over at her mother and then smiles at Lee)

AMANDA: No...she isn't!

LEE: Eastern Bloc agents are the best trained in the world.

AMANDA: No, they're the second best, you're the best, you caught them.

BACK TO EPISODE LIST

SEASON TWO