Bela Pravik is a field goal kicker for the Washington Pioneers. He comes from Lictenstein which is a tax haven for many wealthy people. Bela walks into his room at training camp to find two men ransacking it. One of the men tells Bela that Mr. Price doesn't want him to score any field goals and he's being watched at all times. The two men go and leave behind a very frightened Bela.

Amanda is called to the Agency by Billy. He explains that a John Crandall owns the Washington Pioneers football team and he may have a fortune hidden away in Lictenstein. They're concerned because he's been seen with a Lictensteinian man called Ernst Laslo who in turn is linked with political assassinations. Bela Pravik has recognised Laslo and informed the Agency who have sent Lee to the training camp undercover as a football player called Sandy Newcomb.

Even though Laslo would kill Bela if he knew he'd been identified, Bela can't leave the training camp because Crandall would know something was up. As the rules of the camp are so strict it's hard for Lee to contact the Agency so Amanda is assigned to go undercover herself as a sports reporter for the Washington Blaze and pass on any information Lee gives to her.

Amanda goes to the camp to 'interview' Lee. While she's there she meets Bela who asks her out on a date. She refuses. He suddenly looks behind her and, looking frightened, makes an excuse to leave. Amanda turns in time to see the two men who trashed Bela's room turn and walk away.

Amanda finally finds Lee and asks if he has any information. Lee is not happy to see that Amanda has been chosen for the assignment but gives her the information anyway. He tells her about Bela's room being trashed and also receiving a threat. He then explains that the Prime Minister of Lictenstein is arriving in three days and has vowed to change tax laws. Lee thinks that Crandall has a lot to gain from the Prime Minister's death and he will search Crandall's office later that evening after bed check.

Meanwhile, Laslo has found out that Bela is on the team and tells Crandall that as Bela can I. D. him, he wants him dead before he does what Crandall wants - namely kill the Prime Minister. Crandall reluctantly agrees as long as Laslo can make it look like an accident.

That evening as Lee makes his way down to the office, Crandall talks to his captain, Phil. Laslo arrives and Crandall introduces him as another Coach. Crandall then shows Phil a variation on a play for the opening game that will leave Bela open to be crushed by players of the opposing team. Phil points this out and Crandall informs him that in the ensuing pile up Bela's carotid artery will be pinched. Laslo then tells Phil that he will show him how to do it. Phil is hesitant but Crandall promises him a job as assistant Coach when his career is over and Laslo adds that he will slit his throat if he declines - Phil decides to do it!

Once they leave, Lee breaks into the office. The Coach starts bed check then realises that Lee isn't in his room and starts to search for him. In the office Lee finds the play and takes a picture of it. He then goes into the hallway and opens a window calling for Amanda. She's waiting and Lee hands her the film telling her to get it checked in cryptology as there's something not quite right with the play. As Amanda's about to leave, Lee hears the Coach coming and grabs and kisses her. Lee breaks the kiss then Amanda leaves and Lee explains to the Coach that she was just after an 'in-depth' interview.

The next day Amanda goes back to the training camp and tells Lee that cryptology says that there's nothing wrong with the play but Lee still isn't satisfied. Lee walks off with a cheerleader and Bela goes over to Amanda and they talk. Again, Bela suddenly looks afraid and walks off. Amanda turns to see the same two men she had the day before. Determined to find out what's going on, Amanda follows Bela under the stands and confronts him. He doesn't tell her anything but when he hears the Coach and Crandall walking by he suddenly grabs Amanda and kisses her. The Coach sees them and asks an embarrassed Amanda if she is conducting another 'interview' before walking off shaking his head.

Bela apologises for his actions and walks off. As he turns a corner he sees to two men who are following him and turns around only to see Laslo coming the other way. Knowing Laslo has also seen him, Bela climbs up the rafters under the stands and escapes. Out on the field Lee and Amanda see Bela run up to the top of the stands and jump over the wall. Lee runs out of the stadium in time to see Laslo drive quickly away. Amanda catches up with Lee and he tells her to go to Billy and tell him that he's seen Laslo but Laslo may have spotted Bela. Amanda gets into her car and is surprised to find Bela hiding there. She drives off not realising that the two men who trashed Bela's room are following.

That evening Lee is back at the Agency and they can't find Bela. Amanda calls from a phone box and tells them that she has Pravik but couldn't call before because he was too scared to stop the car. Lee tells her to stay there and he'll join them but Amanda sees Bela being taken from her car and runs off leaving Lee hanging on the other end of the line. She gets into her car and follows them using an Agency cassette to guide her. Once the two men reach their destination, Amanda goes back to the phone box and Lee is waiting for her. She takes him to where Bela is being held but they get caught.

They are held by Mr. Price who turns out to be a bookmaker who wants Bela to miss a few field goals so he can make lots of money. It's his henchmen that have been watching Bela and trashing his room. Realising Price has nothing to do with the plot to kill the Prime Minister, Lee tries to lie his way out of the situation but Price decides to keep them both there until the game so that they won't turn him in.

Back at the training camp, Laslo tells Crandall that if Bela returns for the practice the next day then Phil will have to kill him then - he agrees.

Next morning Lee and Amanda wake up in Price's office wearing straitjackets. They talk about Bela and the practice and Amanda comments that short men shouldn't play football. Lee points out that kickers never get tackled but Amanda remembers a game where one did and Lee suddenly realises that the play he took a picture of was a busted play and that they're going to kill Bela out on the field. A henchman comes to check on them but Lee tackles him, knocking him out cold and they escape after a janitor releases them from the striatjackets.

Price delivers Bela to the practice and Lee and Amanda race to get there on time. Just as the play starts Lee appears and tackles Phil before he can reach Bela. Lee then spots Laslo, who's trying to run away, and chases him. Amanda also sees him and holds out her camera, taking a picture. The flash blinds Laslo and Lee knocks him out. Billy arrives with back up and tells Bela that they're also picking up Price.

That evening Amanda is back at home doing the washing up when Lee appears at the window holding a football. He gives it to Amanda as a souvenir of their case and has even signed it - "To a heck of a good reporter, best wishes Sandy Newcomb." Lee then tells her that he's out celebrating the end of his illustrious football career and produces a bottle of champagne and two glasses. As they toast, Dotty comes downstairs and Lee ducks out of the way. Dotty has a headache but her mask is leaking and she's come down for an alternative.

She tells Amanda that she's concerned about her recent behaviour - out all night, getting phone calls and rushing out, etc. Amanda assures her it's perfectly innocent and Dotty's pleased as she doesn't want her turning out like Uncle Iggy who joined a cult to become a wizard. Dotty wraps a scarf around her head so that it covers her eyes and Lee slowly stands up outside the window in time to hear Dotty say how ridiculous it would be for Amanda to be leading a double life. Amanda turns to Lee and they quietly touch glasses and smile.

ROMANCE:

Nothing really to speak of but I think there were a couple of nice scene's. When the cheerleader asks Lee to freshen her pom-pom's, Amanda offers to do them for her. Just her tone of voice and the way she took them from the cheerleader suggests to me that she was a little jealous.

The other scene is so quick that you may even miss it and really probably isn't anything but, for me, it's when they're both in their straitjackets and Lee sits down in front of her while she's still asleep. He just smiles so tenderly that it really gets to me. It's the type of smile that shows how sweet he thinks she looks just laying there. Perhaps that's why he's so curt with her while waking her up - he doesn't want to feel those feelings or want her to know that he likes her. Or maybe I'm just reading too much into a smile - I'll leave you to be the judge of that!

SCENE'S TO WATCH OUT FOR:

Amanda going to the men's locker room to interview 'Sandy Newcomb'.

Lee pretending not to be in pain after football practice.

Lee getting caught out after curfew by the Coach and kissing Amanda as an excuse.

Cheerleader asking Lee to freshen her pom-pom's but Amanda does it instead.

Crandall and the Coach catching Amanda and Bela kissing - poor Amanda, after catching her with Lee the coach obviously thinks that that's the way she gets her 'interviews'.

Amanda listening to the Agency cassette on the proper way to tail a car and doing everything wrong.

Lee asking Amanda id she knows where Bela has been taken and she doesn't know the name of the street or building.

QUOTES:

FRANCINE: Lee used to play football you know.

AMANDA: Where?

FRANCINE: Oh, at many of the universities he was thrown out of.

BILLY: With the training camp rules being so tightly enforced, it's nearly impossible for Lee to communicate with us. So we want you to pose as a sports reporter. Hang around the camp, let Lee slip you whatever information he has, and report back to us.

AMANDA: Like an undercover operative.

FRANCINE: Like a messenger.

BELA: In Lictenstein where I come from, woman make pastries, babies and trouble.

LEE: Oh, God. I asked Billy to send me a messenger. I assumed that he was going to send…

AMANDA: Anybody but me.

LEE: Yeah.

FRANCINE: I spent two hours at the hairdresser this afternoon. Not to mention the manicure.

LEE: Could have had yourself bronzed.

AMANDA: They got him. I'm glad you're here.

LEE: Well, why wouldn't I be here? I was told to be here, only the person that told me to be here wasn't here!

AMANDA: I can't believe I spent the night in a bookie joint in a straitjacket. My mother will never believe it.

LEE: Amanda, believe me, we have worse problems than your mother thinking you were shacked up.