Picture courtesy of Anke Lantin

Amanda drives out of town to deliver some flowers to her boys school for their parent teacher evening. As she gets more out into the country, she turns down a road and, from behind her, two cars race by and overtake. She's forced onto the side of the road then continues on her way upset at what had happened.

In the first car a man called, Gilles is driving and he's being pursued by a man called Foreman and a woman called, Rita Holden. Realising they're catching up, Gilles rips a page out of what appears to be a notebook and puts it into his jacket pocket. Seconds later, Foreman overtakes him and forces him to stop. As Gilles reverses to try and get away, Foreman gets out of his car and shoots him through the windscreen just as Amanda comes around the bend in time to witness it. She stops and watches as Foremen goes over to Gilles' car and takes aim at Amanda. She races off and Foreman leans in and grabs the book before getting back in his own car. Fearing that she's been seen, Rita orders him to chase Amanda but the trainee spy manages to lose them.

When Amanda brings the police back later, both the dead man and car are gone. Detective Tuggee is sceptical about what she 'thought' she saw and his trepidation seems to be confirmed when a report is called over to him that the licence plate of the now missing car doesn't exist. He tells Amanda that with no evidence, he aren't really interested.

That night, Lee is preparing for an intimate evening with his latest girlfriend, Randi, when Amanda turns up at his door, hands him the police report and tells him about the murder. He says he'll look into it but without the car, a body or a plate then there's really no case. Amanda apologises for intruding on his evening and leaves just as Randi turns up. Lee's girlfriend is not happy when she sees Amanda and Lee has some making up to do.

Amanda arrives home and Dotty and the boys have a surprise for her - they nominated her for Arlington Mother of the Year and Amanda has been chosen as one of the finalists.

With her picture in the paper for all to see, Rita recognises her immediately and now knows her name. Foreman and his partner, Kincaid, say it's a lucky break for them but Rita says it was lucky that they caught Gilles trying to steal the 'trick' book but she wonders how he knew about it. Just then, they are joined by a prostitute called, Shauna who has spent a previous evening with Senator Hoffmeyer. Rita says the evening really paid off and thanks her, then gives her money and reminds her that he plays their 'game' and then Shauna leaves. Rita goes back to her colleagues and they ask who she thinks tipped off Gilles. Rita says that as he was Hoffmeyer's aide, he probably stumbled on it himself. She checks that they got rid of the body and the men reply that he 'sleeps with the fishes'. Rita hopes it's a deep sleep and says that the same thing should happen to Amanda but it must look like an accident.

Meanwhile, in Senator Hoffmeyer's office, he asks his secretary where Gilles is but she doesn't know. Finished for the day, she leaves and Shauna arrives and Hoffmeyer confronts her about Rita and the pictures he saw her taking of them together. Shauna tries to play dumb but Hoffmeyer wants nothing more to do with her and gives her the Brockton Bill that Rita has blackmailed him for. He says Rita will now know how seven other Senator's will vote and Shauna leaves taking the file.

Next morning at the Agency, Billy tells Lee and Francine that Gilles car and body had been pulled out of the Potomac. He was killed with a bullet to the head and they found a page from a notebook on him that they'd sent to cryptology for decoding. Lee asks what car he was in and Billy replies that it was a maroon hatchback confirming Lee's suspicion that he was the victim of the murder Amanda witnessed.

At Amanda's house, the boys are recreating the battle of Khartoum for a school project and there's a mess everywhere. Needless to say, Amanda is horrified to have Mrs. Woodrow from the Mother of the Year committee turn up on her doorstep to do a surprise spot check on the house. She is not impressed by the sight that greets her and before Amanda can explain fully, there's another knock at the door and it's Lee dressed as a bug control guy saying he's come to sort out her ant problem. Mrs. Woodrow is shocked so Amanda sends her upstairs to check up there while she takes Lee into the kitchen.

Lee says he tried to call but he couldn't get through. Amanda sees that the phone if off the hook and surmises that the boys knocked it off while they were playing. Lee asks who Mrs. Woodrow is and when Amanda tells him, he apologises for not picking a better disguise. He then tells her that she's right about the murder and explains who the victim was. He suggests she take a look at mugshots to see if she can pick the murderer. She says she'll try but she wishes she got a better look at the man in the passenger seat. Lee tells her to go the Agency and Billy will get her started. He then leaves saying, loudly enough so Mrs. Woodrow can hear, that he must have the wrong house as there's no ants there.

Outside the house, Foreman and Kincaid are in a car watching the comings and goings and decide to wait until things calm down.

In the Senator's office, Hoffmeyer walks in followed by a reporter called Sachs who wants to know about Gilles death. Rita is waiting to see the Senator and when he goes into his office, Sachs then turns his attention to her saying that although she's a great lobbyist, he wonders how she managed to get the last Bill in her favour when it should have been impossible. She hedges his question and he leaves bumping into Lee who is just coming through the door.

Rita goes into Hoffmeyer's office and he says he thinks Gilles knew of his indiscretions which wouldn't look good on her. She denies murdering Gilles, saying that crime is getting worse in the area. Hoffmeyer says that blackmail is a crime but Rita counters that it's just insurance and asks if she can count of his vote for the new Defence Bill. He says he told Shauna he doesn't want to get involved anymore and he meant it. Rita reminds him of the pictures and he relents. She leaves the office and introduces herself to Lee saying she likes what she sees and then leaves.

Meanwhile, Amanda is attending a Mother of the Year heat where she and the other finalists have to prepare their favourite dish. Just as she starts, Detective Tuggee arrives to ask her about the murder, which horrifies Mrs. Woodrow.

Outside the hall door, Foreman and Kincaid watch and then Foreman calls Rita and tells her Amanda's talking to the police. Rita is angry and tells them to kill her.

Back inside the hall, Amanda agrees to be at the police station in twenty minutes. When the detective leaves, she asks Mrs. Woodrow to put her cake in the oven for her and then leaves herself.

Outside in the parking lot, Kincaid comes out from under Amanda's car and tells Foreman that's everything's set. Amanda comes out and gets into her car then pulls off only to find her accelerator is stuck. Lee drives into the parking lot and she swerves to miss him, yelling out the problem as she gets onto the main road and speeds away. Lee backs out and gives chase but as Amanda turns a corner she swerves to avoid hitting a mother with a baby carriage and crashes into a flower shop. Lee pulls up and rushes over to make sure she's OK. She's fine but upset about the shop. The store owner is also upset and Amanda apologises explaining that both the accelerator and brakes didn't work. She stops and realises what she's said and they both surmise that it was done on purpose. Lee tells Amanda to go to the Agency and make up a photofit and Amanda says she was just going to the police to do that. Lee tells her it's Agency business now, then assures the store owner that they'll be in touch later that day and then they leave.

At the Agency Amanda gives a description of the murderer to an agent who is drawing the picture. Lee is in Billy's office and admits he's worried about Amanda as they're obviously trying to kill her because she witnessed the murder. Billy wishes crypto could decipher what's on the paper and Lee says that Francine is with Bartlett and will let them know as soon as it's done. He adds that considering it's smudged he'll be glad if they get anything. Amanda then enters the office with a picture of Foreman and Billy says he'll get that dispersed to all agents. Amanda gets a shiver and Lee assures her she's safe and her home's guarded to which Amanda responds with a grateful smile. Billy then asks Lee how it went with Hoffmeyer and Lee says he didn't get anything much but he's certain the Senator is hiding something as he sidestepped all his questions about Gilles. Lee suspects he's getting pressure from either Rita or Sachs. Billy says it's worth checking into and will get Francine to track them down. Billy then thanks Amanda for the composite and she asks about her car. Lee looks uncomfortable and takes Billy outside to explain what happened.

Meanwhile, in a park somewhere, Rita is admonishing Kincaid and Foreman for dumping Gilles' car in the Potomac. They ask her about Sachs and she thinks he's getting too close and they should kill him.

Back at the Agency, Amanda and Lee leave the bullpen and he tells her that Billy isn't happy because he volunteered the Agency to pay for the damage of the store. Francine then comes around the corner and bumps into Lee. She tells Amanda that her car is in Elmo's body shop and was definitely tampered with. Lee asks about the page and Francine says that Bartlett decoded it. It mentions some very prominent names in DC and after each one it says things like 'loves to talk', 'Little Bo Peep' and just plain 'frisky'. Lee smiles and Amanda thinks it sounds like a code within a code. Lee explains it's a 'trick' book which Amanda naively thinks means as in magic. Francine goes on to explain that most of the names are elected people of the government and Amanda suddenly realises what the book really is. Lee surmises that Gilles ripped off someone's client book and was killed for it. He asks about Rita and Sachs and Francine admits that she and Sachs don't get along and gives Lee his address so he can speak to him instead. Francine leaves and Amanda again asks about her car, so Lee suggests that they stop off at Sachs' first and then he'll take her to Elmo's.

When they reach Sachs' place, it's to find that he's just on his way out. He tells Lee that if he wants to know about Hoffmeyer then he should check his voting record for the last year. He then walks off but across the road, Foreman is hiding in some bushes and shoots him then makes his escape. Seeing that Sachs is still alive, Lee tells Amanda to call and ambulance and Billy and then chases after the murderer. Lee cuts him off just as Foreman makes it to where Kincaid is waiting for him in a car and Lee ends up killing Foreman in self defence. Lee then turns his gun on Kincaid and tells him to get out effectively capturing him.

At the Agency, Francine tells Lee that Sachs is in a stable condition but it will be a while before he can talk. Billy walks over and asks if Amanda's I.D. was positive. Lee tells him it was and Billy then tells them Foreman's name and says that three years ago he ran an exclusive call girl ring out of Atlantic City. Lee asks about Kincaid but Billy dismissed him as just hired muscle and adds that he won't talk. Francine thinks that Kincaid may be the other man in the car when Gilles was murdered and Billy agrees. Lee looks doubtful and gathers a printout from the computer behind him. After scanning it, he tells Billy that Sachs said to check Hoffmeyer's voting record and show his boss the printout saying that he changed his vote from against to for on several important Bill's. Lee thinks the call girls were used for pressure but Foreman wouldn't have access to politicians. They all then realise that someone else is behind it and Lee knows Amanda still isn't safe.

At Rita's apartment, she puts two gas canisters and a gun into her purse.

At the Mother of the Year ceremony, Amanda is waiting for her family to arrive. As the audience arrive and take their seats, Rita is among them.

Meanwhile, Lee walks into Hoffmeyer's office and lets the Senator know that he has read from the trick book and demands to know who's blackmailing him. Hoffmeyer admits it's Rita.

At the show, Amanda's still waiting for Dotty and the boys. Unseen by anyone, Rita goes backstage and sets off o smoke bomb behind the curtain. The show begins and Lee races to get there. The smoke starts coming out from behind the curtain just as Rita sets another one off by her chair. She yells out that there's a fire as the smoke appears and everyone starts to run out in panic.

In the chaos, Amanda gets knocked over and Rita helps her up before pointing her gun at her. Lee arrives and tries to push through the crowd leaving as he sees Rita walking out of the hall with Amanda. He steps outside just in time to see Rita and Amanda pull out of the parking lot with Amanda driving. He runs and jumps onto the bonnet and hangs on for dear life. Rita tells Amanda to floor it but Amanda knocks the gun out of her hand and the two woman begin to struggle for control of the wheel. Finally, Amanda brakes hard and Lee tumbles onto the road. Rita gets out of the car and tries to make a run for it, but Lee is quickly back on his feet and pulls his gun, ordering her to stop.

With Rita in custody, things return to normal and a few days later, Lee is again preparing for a cosy night in with Randi. Champagne ready, but cake not defrosted, Lee anticipates his girlfriend when there's a knock at his door. However, standing on his doorstep is Amanda, not Randi, baring a gift. Amanda apologises for turning up at the wrong moment again but Lee tells her it's OK and asks what she's carrying. He delighted when Amanda hands over the cake she baked for the competition as a thank you for believing in her. Lee comments she's a lifesaver and asks how the show went. Amanda says she lost - her lifestyle was a little too hectic for the judges. Lee says it's too bad and Amanda tells him to have a nice evening but before she leaves, Randi turns up and sees it's Amanda again. Telling Lee, "that's it!", she walks off in a temper. Lee calls her name but she doesn't respond and Amanda apologises, saying that Randi obviously misunderstood. Lee looks downcast for a moment, then smiles and asks Amanda if she wants any cake, to which they both laugh.

SCENE'S TO WATCH OUT FOR:

Detective Tuggee telling Amanda how his wife finds cigar smoke a turn on.

Amanda telling Lee about the murder.

Detective Tuggee dropping his ash in Amanda's cake mix.

Amanda crashing into the shop and when she gets out the first thing she does is put a plant pot upright.

Lee telling Billy about Amanda's crash.

Tag.

ROMANCE:

I also like it anytime Lee shows he cares about her and when she crashes into the flower shop, I've never seen a guy move so fast in my life, LOL! He sounds panicked and scared that she's really hurt, although once he sees she is, he's back to business again. Shame, but for those few seconds we saw the real proof of his feelings J .

Another nice moment is Lee telling Billy that he's worried about Amanda just after she has the crash. The way he stands in Billy's office looking out the window at her before his admission is sweet. And when Amanda comes in the office and he sees she's worried, he quickly assures her she's safe and so are her family - the smile they share is really warm and we get to see they're mutual affection. In addition to that, when Lee thinks Amanda's safe again, you can really see how happy he is, particularly when he jokes with Francine. And at the end, when he's caught Rita, he makes a point to quietly ask Amanda if she's alright - they're all very telling moments as far as I'm concerned J .

Lastly, the tag scene was another lovely moment for our two intrepid spies. Again they seemed awkward. Perhaps it's the fact that it's Amanda going to Lee's home for a change - maybe it makes it seem too personal for them. I think it was nice that Amanda brought him the cake and Lee wasn't too bothered when Randi left him after, once again, seeing Amanda at his door. What made it special was that he invited her to stay when in the past he's always been so quick to get rid of her - finally he seems to actually admit he likes her company J .

QUOTES:

AMANDA: You need a word.

LEE: A word?

AMANDA: Evidence…and I don't have any. It's like when a tree falls down in the forest. Does it make a sound if there's nobody there to hear it? Only I heard it and nobody believes me.

LEE: That's really not the analogy I would've used but, yeah, I think, uh, I think you're right.

AMANDA: Is Randi a person you'd like to impress?

LEE: Yeah, possibly.

AMANDA: Well then, you should probably take the price tag off this bottle of champagne. It was a bargain.

LEE: Oh, good catch.

MRS. WOODROW: I don't think you can tell me what to do.

AMANDA: Oh, Mrs. Woodrow, that's what mother's do. They tell you what to do and then they tell you if you've done it right.

LEE: Billy, remember where that little flower shop on Woodrow Wilson Boulevard and 17^th Street used to be?

BILLY: Used to be? I just bought some flowers there last week. Have they moved?

LEE: Not actually moved, more like rearranged.

FRANCINE: Am I glad I caught you.

LEE: Caught me? You almost tackled me!

FRANCINE: Yeah, wishful thinking.

LEE: Nice outfit.

FRANCINE: Oh, thank you.

LEE: Well I guess we keep clothes long enough they actually come back in style.

LEE: You know, at least it is safe enough for Amanda to go out on the streets again.

FRANCINE: Oh yeah? You really think the streets are ready for that?

HOFFMEYER: I want protection.

LEE: I want a name! 

RITA: You wouldn't actually shoot a lady would you?

LEE: No. But I WOULD shoot you.

LEE: Randi…

AMANDA:…baby.