When Amanda’s life is deemed to be in danger from a hit-man, she is sent with Lee to a safe house to sit it out until the threat has passed. Together they settle down in a companionable silence, both having found a magazine to read.
The magazine contents, however, appear to be the last thing on Lee’s mind and it doesn’t take long for him to cease his aimless flicking through its pages and become more pleasantly distracted by the sight of Amanda sitting in the chair opposite. Doing her best to remain calm despite the situation they’re in, she’s absently looking through the pages before her.
In those moments he finds his gaze resting solely upon her, seemingly unable to look away, a contemplative smile stealing across his lips. Before him sits a woman who is not only beautiful but has stubbornly stood by him through thick and thin – not to mention shown more times than he can count how much she truly cares about him.
I think in these quiet moments of reflection he knows precisely how much Amanda means to him, fully aware that his feelings have blossomed from friendship into love. Not that he’s told her that yet, despite the fact that they have been spending more time together beyond their normal working hours. The possibility of pursuing a relationship with her hovers tantalisingly before him, almost close enough to touch…
His daydreams are suddenly brought to a complete halt as Amanda, perhaps sensing his gaze upon her, glances up and catches him staring. His eyes widen immediately in perceptible alarm – it’s the last thing he wants.
Amanda doesn’t say anything nor does she seek to question aloud his attentions upon her, although equally she doesn’t look directly away either. It is Lee who immediately turns his gaze from hers, trying to cover his awkwardness at being caught watching her so intently.
He is so busy hiding from her that he doesn’t see the little smile that passes across Amanda’s lips as she sees his reaction. He obviously didn’t mean for her to see him staring and clearly feels embarrassed that she has, but she has to wonder what he was thinking. He certainly appeared reflective, wistful….
Amanda goes back to her magazine, continuing on as before. For Lee, however, it seems completely impossible for him to look in any direction other than her and slowly, as if powerless to do anything else, he turns his gaze towards her once more before glancing down at his watch and reluctantly acknowledging the fact that maybe she ought to go and get some rest.
“Amanda, it’s getting late. Why don’t you take a rest? I’ll go in the other room.”
At his words Amanda glances up, a little startled by his words. It’s the last thing she wants to do. “Well I’m really not tired and I’m probably too nervous to sleep,” she tells him, hoping that he will pick up on the fact that she would rather not be on her own at the present moment. Lee, however, is quick to reassure her on that count – in fact, he couldn’t be happier!
His eyes instantly light up, even as he smiles brightly in her direction in response to her confirmation that she wants him there with her.
Amanda’s equally radiant smile indicates that she too is just as happy about the fact that he will sit a little longer with her and seems to be in no hurry to be out of her presence. How far they’ve come since those far off times when he couldn’t wait to be rid of her! “That would be nice,” she says, gratefully.
“Yeah,” Lee agrees. Perhaps they can ditch the magazines now (which neither of them was really reading in the first place) and talk?
The only problem is that Fate appears to have other ideas and, as if on cue, rudely intervenes. The knock on the door couldn’t be more ill-timed and neither of them can hide their disappointment. After all, the minute Lee opens the door the moment will be lost. Sure enough Francine has come to stand in for Lee because Billy has asked for him to get back to the Agency as quickly as possible – although she has absolutely no idea what is so urgent.
Lee, for his part, can’t help but question this abrupt and unexpected change of plan but Francine is adamant: Billy wants them to trade shifts. He therefore has no choice but to agree, albeit with no small degree of disappointment. It was bad enough Francine turning up; now it looks like he’s going to have to leave completely!
“Well I guess I’d better go,” he says resignedly, looking over at Amanda who sits silently, knowing that she has no choice but to accept that she’ll be spending the rest of the evening in Francine’s company. He too knows where he’d rather be – and it’s not at the Agency. “See you later.”
“Goodnight,” Amanda calls out to him, speaking for the first time since Francine has come into the room as she watches him leave, seeing his eyes darting towards hers from the doorway for a final time before Francine closes the door on him.
Scarecrow & Mrs King - Getting to Know You 