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jaggedwolf · 21 days

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pll rewatch 1x15-1x16

my poor little meow meow is here...Paige has arrived and is causing problems (and accidentally giving the liars a clue). these couple of episodes also have a Spencer-Emily and Hanna-Aria split to them.

oh Paige...we're just gonna talk about all of her and Emily's stuff first because jaggedwolf is biased like this

even in my peak PLL fandom I didn't rewatch their S1 scenes often, so it is an interesting experience to view them again after all these years

blah blah drowning scene happened blah blah, I shall spare you the obvious statement that it was (bad and violent) intimidation and not a murder attempt

most interesting to me is that in their very first scene together, at the poolside, Paige doesn't come across as antagonistic - instead, she's almost pleased that Emily's back for the full season.

and then gives us that very painful captain-related speech (is she currently captain? are they in the process of deciding captaining?) before being super aggro to Emily

I adore Emily's response here, telling Paige to suck it up and work harder if she cares so much. No one other than the two of them witnesses it, so no one gives Emily the credit she deserves for this - she wasn't lying when she told Spencer she handled it, and it is very possible Paige would've backed down at this point

ofc spencer spencers it up, so that is not to be

also intriguing is that Paige assumes a level of plotting to Emily's choices - that Emily is gunning for captain, that Emily snitched to Coach Fulton and then didn't weirdly didn't say anything to Coach when it was the three of them

it's the first time we've seen someone assume that of Emily, and we've had 14 episodes showing us that Emily is the most direct of the Liars, so it's a jarring assumption

one that works well with some later stuff though, so I like it

Coach Fulton ILU but deciding the relay anchor the morning of your swim meet via a swim-off between your best two swimmers is an insane choice, don't you want them rested?? for the sake of my sanity and my meager investigations into high school sports seasons, I'm going to assume this meet is an early season friendly that is meaningless

also for the sake of Paige's swimming career ig bc she misses the meet, due to wiping out in the rain, due to riding off sadly in the rain away from Emily's house

even Paige's apology in the rain is ??? inducing for Poor Emily, haha, but I enjoy how pathetic she looks here. I'll note that this apology scenes comes not right after the drowning but after the swim-off decision, though there are likely doylist reasons for that

something I like about Emily's S1 stuff with Toby and Paige is that you get the sense of both of them have existed in Emily's periphery for a while now - Toby is her neighbour, Paige is on the swim team

and so Paige knows where she lives, they have each other's phone numbers, etc

forgot that Paige straight up says "how easy it would be if I just wiped out", hm.

the sudden music for the final swimming scene kills me, I had zero memory of that

Spencer's choice of DVD rental movie star is jake gyllenhaal, it is 2010, I wonder what her favored jake gyllenhaal movie is. also if Hanna followed the subsequent tswift drama.

anw, Spencer's instinctive caretaking re: the liars is sweet and sad to me.

sweet because it really does seem to happen without conscious thought, like asking if anyone wants coffee, making Emily eat pizza, uttering "I'll destroy her" about Paige, and of course, telling the coach behind Emily's back.

sad because you can see the threads of how her parents show her affection - i've taken care of this for you, it's all settled, let's go, you're going to win

anyway we get our first real Spencer-Emily fight this episode and I love it, it's so charged. Emily does not expect to be hurt this way nor does Spencer expect to hurt her

I just love that Spencer had paid attention to the Alison-Emily dynamic to realize that, despite how cold flashback!Spencer is towards the others

and Emily hates being coddled, or protected, or assumed a pushover

Spencer and Toby's nervous little french lessons! Emily is hesitant about Spencer's outreach here, but I'm curious about her own lack of reaching out to Toby - does she feel like she doesn't get to, after she didn't believe him?

really like their scene where Emily is simultaneously cheating off Spencer for homework and Spencer is wondering aloud about Toby while Emily teases her.

Spencer mentions Paige was on her field hockey team and we should all take a moment to contemplate how cursed that freshman year hockey team must've been. Ian as coach is creeping on Spencer, Paige is committing fouls so violent that they get named for her, very sorry for all the other girls on the squad. Imagining Bridget Wu as a bench-warmer taking swigs from her flask.

Hastings household apparently has a housekeeper huh

Spencer's intense argument with Ali in that flashback...excellent...I'd entirely forgotten about it, and I wonder if Ali lived if Spencer would've followed through on ditching her.

AITAH I (15F) unionized my friends (15F, 15F, 15F) against our mean friend-leader (15F) who had secrets on all of us

Every time Spencer speaks to Ian alone I am so creeped out, which means the show is doing a good job, but eughhh. Also eughhh: Melissa waving off that her husband macked on her then-15 year old sister and jumping right to the pregnancy news.

Spencer pissed off Emily so bad that she had to be alone when she visited bead lady and got told "Spencer Hastings" bought the bracelets

though we all should be grateful Spencer took 2 seconds when seeing Paige's gifts to the swim team and that she went "Paige bought these from the same place our bracelets came from" and not "Paige is A!!!!"

the only good thing about the Ezra plot these episodes is that it makes Hanna emo and it makes Spencer tell Aria "you were ready to give me tongue yesterday"

Ashley Marin makes objectively terrible decisions and the show still makes me always on her side. That is the power of Ashley Marin.

can't believe it's Caleb's fault that Ella doesn't find out about Ezra boinking her daughter. In a vacuum, I love it, this kid who doesn't have anywhere to sleep and who needs cash fast decides to kill a teacher's car just because Hanna seems really upset about the teacher getting somewhere.

but looking ahead at how many seasons of Ezra/Aria we have to slog through...you could've shown your affection some other way Caleb

list of places Caleb's bounced around: Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago and then finally little old Rosewood

Spencer has some great outfits these episodes.

In one of these episodes Emily is wearing one of those T-shirts where the back just doesn't exist and I got distracted pondering how it stays on.

feels unfair for Aria to jump to jealousy when Hanna tries to get her to not go to the museum with Ezra, but so it goes, and poor Hanna when she tries to explain herself at the end and doesn't get to

the rosewood shark plushies are very cute and I can't believe this is the first time I've even noticed they existed, I suspect that means they never show up again.

at some point while talking Spencer just sticks her finger in the shark plushie's mouth lmao

I've forgotten so many of these A tags...French lessons on tape while weapons from clue are laid out? Having tea with bead lady? Sure, why not

#pll watching #pll #pll 1x15 #pll 1x16 #jaggedwolf rambles #mine

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pendragonsandbuckleys · 6 months

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Long Lost Papa Bear. Summary: James MacGyver – Oversight to those within the Phoenix Foundation – left his son at the mere age of ten in a pragmatic attempt at protecting him from the growing list of enemies making their way to his door. But walking out and abandoning are two different things, and when his son goes from estranged family to current employee, his methods of keeping an eye on him are only made easier. - A look into James’ time as the boss of the Phoenix Foundation, knowing full well that his own son is working beneath him. Word Count: 4,903 [Also on AO3]

When I was first recruited, I thought I could keep family and work separate and for a while, I did. But the more I worked, the more enemies I racked up and I knew one day they’d come after me like Murdoc came after you. I’d already lost your mother and I wasn’t about to risk losing you.

Your grandfather helped me keep tabs on you. I was never really gone, son. I mean, you think you ended up working for me by accident? I was always in the background, nudging you in the right direction.

— James MacGyver, Season 2 Episode 23.

FEBRUARY 2000

Teeth grinding together; a low hiss escaped past his tongue as he dabbed away the blood with a saline-soaked cotton ball. Of all the places his target had to get a hit in, of course it was right on his temple – not an easy spot to hide from an inquisitive nine-year-old.

He should be relived. A major terror attempt thwarted, the culprits locked up under high security, and – glancing at his watch – the promise of two uninterrupted days with his boy. So why was it the last thought, the thought of being close to his son, that left an uncomfortable pit in his stomach?

It amazed him how bright Angus was, always curious and eager to learn. So much like his mother—

His palms pressed into the cool ceramic of the sink; head bent low as he let out a long breath. He would have given anything for Ellen to see her son now. To see the intelligent little man he was growing into. But beautifully big-brained or not, Angus was still just a boy and he needed his father to protect him. And what better way to keep him safe than to draw the enemies away from his door.

The terrorists, the gunmen, the psychopaths intent on murder. Every day they drew nearer and eventually, whether he prepared for it or not, someone was going to infiltrate his defences and get too close to the thing he loved most in the world.

So if staying away kept his son safe, then so be it.

OCTOBER 2001

Matilda Webber was a force of nature. Fierce and determined. With only seven years on the job under her belt her reputation preceded her, accomplishing twice as much as half of his agents and he wanted her on his team.

Her assignment was simple: investigate him.

Interrogation, surveillance, snooping though information she shouldn’t be privy to using methods she had spent years honing.

Show him what all the hype was about.

Show him any flaws in his security that would need to be patched.

She was incredible, winning him over halfway through the first day, and by the end of the week he had made a firm decision: she would be his handler. She would keep him in check and help lead his team and

– when she found information on his son, his stomach dropped –

she would help him hide deeper within this organisation where even his name would not see the light of day.

MAY 2002

LOCAL TEEN CAUSES NUCLEAR MELTDOWN

…was the headline he had spent days waiting to see plastered across the front page each time he passed the newspaper stand.

Those bold black letters would never be printed of course. Regardless of his hand in the containment of the incident, his son was much too loved in that school for them to let him come into any harm over it.

Only Angus.

And Wilt, he supposed. Though he had a feeling that his son’s best friend had been an innocent – if not eager – bystander as usual. What happened to the days of Angus being satisfied with dismantling a car or stripping a DVD player for parts?

He bet the teachers were wishing they had provided something a little more stimulating for the boy genius. If they had, the giant patch of charcoaled grass might still have a football field in its place.

Then again, this was the same boy who had almost set his gym alight a few months prior with his homemade indoor lightning.

Yeah…there would have been no stopping this. He just hoped for their sake they had some good insurance in place.

For next time.

FEBRUARY 2007

His phone vibrated once against the desk as he was midway through a report. Fingers flying across the keys, he let himself finish his sentence before taking a look.

No words, just a photo.

He appreciated Harry’s lack of small talk but sometimes he did wonder if his father’s straight-to-the-point messages were born more out of annoyance than convenience. His father understood why he had to leave all those years ago, but it didn’t mean he agreed with it.

He tapped on the photo, opening it to full screen.

Dear Angus,

On behalf of the Admissions Committee, it is my pleasure to offer you admission to the MIT Class of 2008…

A warm feeling he probably didn’t deserve to be having suddenly crept into his chest. Seventeen years old no less and his son had been accepted into one of the most prestigious schools in the country.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

He had dreamt of this day. His son’s excitement at reading those words aloud. His bittersweet sorrow as his son moved far away from home and into his dorm. His pride as Angus donned his graduation cap and gown after three hard years of work.

Only, in his dream, he had been there at his son’s side.

Without a word he closed the photo, returned his phone to the desk and continued with his report.

MARCH 2011

He smiled politely at the gaggle of agents as they passed him in the hallway after a meeting, recognising their faces even if some of their names escaped him. As Oversight, it was his duty to supervise the inner workings of his organisation and he’d grown very familiar with the different teams within DXS and the expertise that each operative brought to the table.

Rather basic as a code name, but conveniently self-explanatory he supposed. To oversee something.

He was aware of all active missions, all new recruits, all ongoing disputes. And though it came with a heavy sense of responsibility, he happily carried it with both hands. DXS was his pride and joy, and he was privileged to be its commander.

Which is why he felt it crucial to employ only the best.

Recruitment came from all over the country; individuals on their radar, fellow Intelligence agencies, his reach even went as far as the US military. Which is why he had been able to pull some strings to get his son paired together with a one Jack Dalton during their time in Afghanistan.

The partnership between scientists and soldiers in the field was something their organisation had been the first to introduce way back after the Second World War. Something he had thought beneficial to every team under his command. He had looked into several servicemen, but Sergeant Dalton – a former associate of Matilda Webber, no less – seemed the best counterbalance to Angus’ scientific prowess. On paper at least.

He had given them the push, but now it was up to them to form the bond that would be pivotal for their eventual enrolment into DXS.

SEPTEMBER 2016

A stolen bioweapon.

A failed mission.

A dead agent; two more injured.

Patricia Thornton’s carefully crafted team had been operating under him for a few years now. A world class computer analyst, a deadly skilled ex-Delta operative and an EOD tech come scientific genius. Far from the first mission they had ever faced, he had expected better from them during their time in Lake Como, Italy. They had been warned of the dangers of the device, the effects it could have on thousands of people if it ended up in the wrong hands.

And still, they let it slip through their grasp.

He paced his office as his eyes scanned the medical report that had worked its way up the chain to him.

DALTON, J.

Agent Dalton suffered a grade one concussion and scalp laceration following a blow to the occipital bone. Four stitches were required. No swelling of the brain identified and minimal blood loss occurred.

Minor cuts and bruises to the face and scalp also identified, not requiring treatment.

Recovery time estimated at 7 days.

Not ideal, but not the end of the world. One week, maybe five days at a push, and he’d be back in the field.

MACGYVER, A.

Agent MacGyver suffered a GSW to the upper left thorax causing approx. 1.5 litre blood loss at scene. Surgery to remove bullet and close wound was successful. Further blood loss managed effectively.

Intervention to reduce water in lungs also successful.

4 units blood transfusion in progress. Blood type: AB Negative.

Recovery time estimated at 4 weeks.

One month recovery time.

Also not ideal. But then, Angus wasn’t hired solely for his physical capability. Even while recovering at home, his brain could still be of use to them.

GSW to upper left thorax.

He let out a grunt as his hip connected with the corner of his desk, inattention to his surroundings prevalent as his eyes were drawn to that point over and over. The chest was a dangerous place for any injury with multiple vital organs and arteries at risk.

He rubbed his thumb over the sore spot, releasing a long breath through his nose as he placed the report on the desk.

Not only was the bioweapon now firmly in the wind, they had also come this close to losing one of their top assets. And all because DXS had allowed two of their agents to cross the line of professionalism.

Angus would never have lost focus and allowed the mission to fail so terribly if only they had reinforced the no-relationship-between-agents rule.

NOVEMBER 2016

Whilst most people would be spending their weekends navigating busy malls in an attempt to get their holiday shopping underway, he was fielding multiple calls from multiple divisions demanding to know what was happening in an embassy building 5.6 thousand miles from his office.

He was keeping up with it all, of course. All comms, all decisions being made, The team on the ground were more than capable of handling it but it was a delicate situation and he had to be ready to step in if needed.

He had just ended his latest call when the phone immediately chimed in his hand.

“Yes?” He greeted, no time for pleasantries.

It was a swift conversation, barely move than five words needed from his end, as the agent provided an update.

Three hours.

He felt his stomach drop.

Three hours until exfil could reach the embassy. Three hours that the boots on the ground would need to hold the fort against the Dieva Roka and their barrage of gunfire. He couldn’t lose—

They couldn’t lose this embassy. It was too important to the inner workings of international relationships between multiple territories.

He was certain that the team would come up with a sure-fire way of keeping everyone safe until backup arrived, but in the meantime, he had a few more phone calls to make.

JANUARY 2017

He had eyes and ears everywhere. He knew about the mole lurking within the US government, he knew they had been feeding information to an outside terror organisation, that they had even gone as far as ordering the deaths of innocents to keep their secret safe.

What he was ashamed to have not known was that the mole was an agent within his own establishment. Instead, the privilege of identifying them had fallen on his own son’s team no less.

Patricia Thornton had been the trusted Head of DXS for many years and the transformation into the Phoenix Foundation had seen her shift in roles to the Director of Operations. A role that, he now realised, suited her agenda perfectly.

How had he missed it? A mole so high up in their agency.

He would be running thorough checks on all of his employees over the next few days. And the new director? He knew exactly who to bring in for that role. Someone who had worked closely with him for several years. Someone he trusted exceedingly.

OCTOBER 2017

As the Head of the Phoenix Foundation, it was well within his right to delegate all missions to the various teams on the ground but where was the fun in that? He hadn’t spent all these years honing his skills as a covert operative just to sit in an office all day once he’d reached the top.

It was a juicy assignment. Reports of a cartel leader operating out of Pasadena had led to weeks of surveillance, days of planning and finally this morning, the successful detainment of said leader and seventeen members, effectively shutting down that chapter of the cartel for good.

A few hours with his operatives and those members would spill enough intel to have them taking down the entire operation. No casualties, 100% success – it felt good to end his morning on a high. And just in time for lunch at his favourite diner.

The drive back had been a breeze in the late-morning, low-level traffic and he had just navigated his car into one of many empty parking spots when his phone began to ring from where it was clipped to the dashboard. Only a select few people had his number, and they wouldn’t be calling unless it was urgent.

He wasn’t sure what to think when glanced down to see the screen lit with Director Webber’s name. As of this morning, she wasn’t scheduled to have sent her team out on any assignments. He answered the call swiftly and let her do most of the talking, grateful that she was as to-the-point as ever with her updates.

Murdoc had returned from whatever dark hole he had last crawled into.

Agent MacGyver had been kidnapped.

Agents Dalton, Cage and Bozer had followed the trail as far as possible before it had run too cold to be of any use.

As her words washed over him, leaving an uncomfortable chill in their wake, his eyes were drawn to a young boy exiting the diner with a man that he could only assume was his father. As the boy lifted his hand for his father to hold onto, he was reminded of the reason he had stayed hidden away from Angus for all of these years.

To stop this very thing from happening. To keep his family out of enemy crosshairs. He should have known that guiding Angus into the same profession would eventually have him racking up enemies of his own.

It sent a shiver down his spine; the known murderer breaking into his father’s old house. Phoenix’s previous dealings with Murdoc had been enough for them to get a clear idea of the man’s psychopathic tendencies and Angus had been in his clutches for a good few hours now if Matilda’s timeline was correct.

Why his son hadn’t secured the house more thoroughly after Murdoc’s previous infiltration was a mystery to him. He thought he’d taught his son better than that.

Dalton, Cage and Bozer were returning to the Phoenix but he trusted that their search wouldn’t end there. And as the young boy and his father disappeared down the street, Director Webber finished her update with a promise to keep him notified as the situation progressed. He ended the call with a thanks and reversed out of the parking spot, heading straight for his office. He didn’t have much of an appetite anymore.

DECEMBER 2017

“Thank you, Director Webber.” He dismissed her succinctly.

Keeping his eyes locked on his computer screen, he could pretend that his Handler wasn’t lingering in his provisional, hesitating with only one foot out of his office door.

He’d been here before, the great mystery of Schrödinger’s scowl. If he didn’t look up, then maybe daggers weren’t really being glared in his direction. But if anyone was going to win a stubbornness contest…

“Was there something else, Director Webber?” He asked coolly, raising his head and accepting the harsh eye contact.

Matilda lifted her chin defiantly, glower only deepening the longer the silence lingered between them. She rolled her eyes with a huff, stepping back into the room to close the door behind her.

“He’s only six floors down, you know. If you fancied checking in on him.”

He knew. Of course he knew. Where else would his son have been taken after being exposed to a lethal nerve gas if not the Phoenix Foundation’s impressive infirmary. The high tech, state of the art medical floor of their building was often overlooked on the day-to-day basis of many agents who successfully made it through missions with barely a scratch on them. But for the more dangerous endings to otherwise fruitful assignments; the gunshot wounds, the poisonings, the injuries that would raise all the wrong questions at a normal hospital; their infirmary was fully manned and copiously stocked for anything that came through their doors.

As head of the organisation, he had access to the running log of those being treated at any one time and often liked to check that his agents were recovering well. That report had been open on his screen for two hours today, only closing once Angus’ name had appeared at the top of the list.

Matilda crossed her arms with more flourish than was strictly necessary, head tilting perfectly to the side. He was obviously taking too long to reply.

“They’ve sedated him so he wouldn’t even have to know you were there.”

Sedated. Made sense. Nerve agents could cause havoc on the body; difficulty breathing, painful muscle spasms, severe headaches, coma, death—

He’d read the report. They’d gotten Angus back to the Phoenix before his condition had turned critical, administered the atropine and pralidoxime before anything irreversible played out. Several words had stood out from the page to leave an uneasiness sitting in his chest though – respiratory distress and seizure amongst them – but considering the devastation the VX gas could have caused to the entirety of New York had it been dropped into the water supply; they had gotten off lightly.

“Jim.”

“Matilda.”

Another roll of the eyes.

“You’re not going to be able to hide away forever.” She said sadly. Though he had a feeling that was more on his son’s behalf than anything else. “For the past few months that boy has spent every waking moment he has hunting for clues that could lead him to you.”

He pushed himself up from his chair as she spoke, moving to stand by the window. It was much easier to hear her words without the scrutinous stare that accompanied them. Even as a young boy, Angus was relentless when he put his mind to something, eager to solve every problem he came across. But this was different. This wasn’t some old television set that could be ripped apart and screwed back together, this was life or death. And he had been perfecting the art of hiding a lot longer than Angus had been alive. His son was going to have to admit defeat soon enough.

“I’m staying away for—”

“—for his own protection, yes, so you keep saying. But whether you like it or not, your son is far too clever not to succeed in this.”

The sun was setting now, long shadows being cast behind trees as the evening took hold. His window was open slightly and the eventide air seeping through was cool against his skin. Angus would be kept in for a few days, at least, medical staff checking in on him regularly to ensure his symptoms were under control and improving. The recovery statistics from such poisonings were typically very good when treated in time – which it had been – so he should be back to normal, and back to work, by the end of the week.

Wordlessly, Matilda moved back to the door, taking his reluctance to answer as her cue to leave and suddenly the question he’d been dying to ask forced its way out before he could think twice. He couldn’t hide behind the impersonal technical jargon of the report, he needed to hear it from the mouth of someone who had been there, on direct comms with the team.

“Was it bad?”

He watched as her faint window reflection paused, took a breath, and turned her head just enough to speak into the room.

“Yeah Jim. It was bad.”

She left the room this time, the door clicking shut behind her, leaving a sickly feeling settling in his stomach and his mind drifting downwards to six floors below. It wasn’t the first time Angus had found himself there and, in their line of work, it likely wouldn’t be the last.

He just didn’t want to know how many more ways his son could think of to try and get himself killed.

JANUARY 2018

Okay, Angus really needed to up his security system; or better yet, move out. He knew the appeal of a safe space – especially one with an already paid off mortgage – but if multiple criminals have been able to break in and threaten your life, maybe it was time to find somewhere new.

He was halfway through his prep for a meeting when his comms completely blew up (…possibly an inappropriate turn of phrase to use under the circumstances). He had already been dealing with two failed missions, three agents stranded on foreign soil without exfil, and an agent in the hospital after being shot by a psychopath that appeared to be haunting their organisation. And now, two of his men had found themselves trapped in their own house alongside a giant bomb.

Director Webber was on the ground liaising with LAPD and the FBI, and he was happy to stay in the shadows, watching from afar while she coordinated their movements. Agents Bozer and Davies were assisting, and he was grateful for their constant communications that he was able to listen in to over the radio.

The staticky chatter filled the room with background noise while he made some calls to keep TV crews and reporters away. The last thing they needed were swarms of nosy individuals crowding the area and putting themselves in danger. That, and the mass panic that would no doubt ensue if it was revealed that there was a bomb primed to explode in the centre of Los Angeles.

His forefinger tapped impatiently against the desk. There was nothing more maddening than someone taking their time to relay information to him when there was an ongoing crisis at hand. It was a tricky situation to navigate and time was ticking. There were a lot of variables to consider when dealing with a threat situation such as this and though his team on the ground were handling the investigation of the bomb with meticulousness, he still had his part to play.

Though if he stepped back and took in the whole picture, he’d be able to see that this bomb-maker, the Ghost, had already taken the hard choice out of their hands should the worst come to the worst. Phoenix had been made aware of the threat and had, so far, been able to clear the suspected blast vicinity, keeping potentially hundreds of innocents safe. Leaving only two to be affected.

The lives of the many, outweighed the lives of the few, but it was harder to be impartial when the few included someone very important – not just to him, but to the whole world.

FEBRUARY 2018

If Director Webber were standing next to him, she would have zero reservations whatsoever about calling him a coward.

And maybe he was.

But if anything, it was her fault for putting the idea in his head. It really was easier to face someone if they didn’t know that you were there. If anything, this at least made him a better father than the man two months ago who had refused to step foot into the Phoenix infirmary for fear of…something. What exactly he hadn’t quite worked out. Being seen? Being recognised? Being forced to have an adult conversation with the son he left all those years ago?

So, now here he was, lingering in the long stretch of hallway, paying the medical staff no attention as they wandered past. He was stood close enough to Angus’ room to see in, but far enough away to keep it from being obvious why he was there.

The distance wasn’t necessary. Not anymore. Not after Angus’ list of enemies had long since outnumbered his own. But hiding was second nature to him now and it seemed not even his son could reverse the trait that had been so strongly ingrained into his very DNA.

Angus wasn’t alone in his room, accompanied only by his overwatch who, up until half an hour ago, had been pacing so restlessly he was sure the man would wear a hole into the polished floor. Now he was sitting in the single chair positioned next to the bed, hand periodically reaching up to run through his mess of hair or across the stubble of his chin.

He could remember that feeling all too well. A mission gone bad. A partner injured in the field. The long night waiting for news.

Angus was asleep in the bed, pale blue sheets pulled high up to his chest exposing a heavily bandaged shoulder. It was a successful surgery, he’d been informed. Bullet removed and skin stitched up with minimal issues. They would let him stay the night but by morning he’d be good to return home with an abundance of painkillers and the instruction to take it easy.

How was it that his son had been shot more times under his leadership than he ever had in an active war zone?

Though when he had hired Angus, he hadn’t expected a crazed admirer to quickly be included in the package. Murdoc had been popping up on his radar repeatedly since the Phoenix Foundation’s first encounter with him a year prior and his obsession with Agent MacGyver was concerning to say the least. They were lucky he had been feeling generous today, inflicting a non-fatal flesh wound with his bullet instead of anything more permanent.

And now to top it off, he’d received word that Murdoc had escaped from custody, again…

Once Angus found out, that instruction to take it easy was going to need to be a strongly worded command from Director Webber for his son to even consider following it seriously. Though he was sure the team could handle the stubborn ways of their fellow agent.

Glancing through the window, he took one final look at the pair before wordlessly slipping away to get a head start on the search.

MAY 2018

He’d been imagining this day for years.

He just didn’t know why Angus had to decide to quit on the one day he finally got the intel he had been waiting months for. Time sensitive intel too. He couldn’t waste this opportunity to take down Jonah Walsh just because Agent MacGyver had been having doubts about his place of work.

When Director Webber had called to inform him, he’d told her to send Angus his way. Two birds, one stone and all that.

The large country house had been mostly empty when he’d arrived, only one gun-wielding thug who, after a bit of a tumble, had been easily incapacitated. He was having a nice nap in the pantry now, safely out of the way.

It was a big, open house with high ceilings and polished furniture. Not exactly the backdrop he was expecting when notified of the cartel’s latest bolt hole. But honestly, he didn’t care if it was a 5-star hotel or an underground sewer, he wasn’t staying long. As soon as he cracked the safe and grabbed what was inside, he was gone.

Careful footsteps approached from behind and he couldn’t help but smile to himself.

Just in time.

The dial clicked beneath his fingers and as he began rotating it to the left to continue the combination, it occurred to him that he hadn’t actually considered what his first words to his son would be after fifteen years.

“Wouldn’t take another step if I were you.” He said without thinking as Angus softly trod right on the loose board he’d noticed earlier. Good enough start as any he supposed. He never could do things normally. “That weak floorboard is actually a pressure plate attached to an IED.”

“…You’re lying.” Angus replied sceptically, which was…surprising. Not the tone of voice— no, Angus was far too smart to not see through that. But the words. Zero comment, zero recognition of his father’s voice. Maybe it had been too long.

“Maybe. Take another step and we’ll see.” The dial clicked again. “What do you want.”

“Director Webber sent me here to speak with Oversight.” Angus’ voice was steady, if not a little frustrated. Unfazed by the situation he had walked into. Unprepared for what he was about to discover.

“Oh, then you got him.” He turned around to look over at the man standing behind him.

Time for the moment of truth…

Thanks for reading! 🖤

#macgyver #macgyver fic #my fic

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adamwatchesmovies · 2 years

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Sabotage (2014)

Arnold Schwarzenegger (a personal favorite of mine) hasn’t lost it. Too nasty to be fun, Sabotage is not a good film, but it’s not because of him. The problem is that none of the characters contain even a shred of likability.

John “Breacher” Wharton (Schwarzenegger) leads a DEA team that's gotten greedy. While raiding a cartel warehouse, they steal $10 million and hide it in the sewers below, masking their crime with an explosion that destroys the vault. When the money disappears, Breacher, James “Monster” Murray (Sam Worthington), his wife Lizzy (Mireille Enos), Joe “Grinder” Philips (Joe Manganiello), Julius “Sugar” Edmonds (Terrence Howard), Eddie “Neck” Jordan (Josh Holloway), Tom “Pyro” Roberts (Max Martini), and Bryce “Tripod” McNeely (Kevin Vance) no longer know who they can trust.

You could cheer for a group of corrupt officers if they were enjoyable to watch, but these people aren’t. They joke around and throw some good-natured insults at each other, but they don’t seem like friends. When a traitor shows up in their midst, it doesn’t feel like a betrayal because you never feel that this unit was a well-oiled machine. With each passing scene, they differentiate themselves less and less from the bad guys they stole from and you stop caring. Arnold’s Breacher isn’t quite as detestable as the rest. Instead, he’s given a lame backstory about his wife and son being violently tortured to death. GrEaT. Even this I could’ve looked past, but the film is needlessly bloody, and not in a good way. When you consider the ending (which to give credit where credit is due I didn’t see coming), I doubt some of this would make sense on a re-watch. I don’t want to give it away, but there are some Saw level kills here that no one in real life could’ve done. I know there’s a reason for the deaths to be as bloody as they are, but the red herring is so ineffectual I can’t imagine anyone being fooled by it.

Aside from Breacher - whom you begin to dislike more and more as the film progresses for ineffectually leading a team of no-good thugs - the one character you might sort of like is Olivia Williams as Caroline Brentwood, a police detective investigating the murders. I guess she’s ok, but the writing just makes this movie as appealing as the sludge at the bottom of a garbage can. Combine that with an unconvincing romantic subplot and there’s just nothing to like. The action scenes aren’t impressive and the last one we get feels completely unnecessary. There’s just something about Sabotage (what does that title have to do with anything?) that leaves you feeling gross.

Even for Schwarzenegger fans, Sabotage is a hard sell. Its lead never gets to show off his charisma, the plot isn’t particularly memorable, and none of the characters are enjoyable on any level. There’s hardly anything to like but at least it moves quickly. Since it doesn’t actually generate any rage, I’ll just label it as bad and forgettable. (On DVD, August 2, 2017)

#Sabotage #movies #films #Movie Reviews #Film Reviews #David Ayer #Skip Woods #arnold schwarzenegger #Sam Worthington #Olivia Williams #Joe Manganiello #Harold Perrineau #Martin Donovan #Max Martini #Josh Holloway #Mireille Enos #Terrence Howard #2014 movies #2014 films

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joshuamyra · 10 months

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youtube

Blu-ray Shimmer (2021) Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Pack Brand New Factory Sealed!

Blu-ray Shimmer (2021) Blu-Ray + DVD Combo Pack Brand New Factory Sealed! A forensic detective investigates a number of mysterious deaths in the deep south after a series of baffling remains are discovered. The more evidence she uncovers, however, the more it seems that the killer might be more than human. Dr. Thea Kait is a forensic scientist with the Seneca Police Department. She is called to the scene of a crime by her friend, Detective Kurt Blas. There’s been a murder….or has there? The body isn’t like anything either of them have seen, and the widow of the deceased issues a warning: “It’s in the light.” Soon, the bodies start racking up – and the remains are just as baffling. With mounting pressure from Captain Rose, Thea and her forensics team must work quickly to find the culprit….if there is one. The more evidence they find, the less it seems like a human killer.

#Youtube

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brokehorrorfan · 2 years

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4K Ultra HD Review: The Toolbox Murders

The Toolbox Murders is a rare instance in which a horror remake is more well-known than the original. While neither version is particularly celebrated, the 2004 redux is remembered for being directed by master of horror Tobe Hooper. Incidentally, the 1978 original would have never existed were it not for Hooper; the unexpected success of his The Texas Chain Saw Massacre inspired the producers to make their own horror movie.

Taking a cue from the 1974 classic’s based-on-a-true-story marketing angle, The Toolbox Murders writers Neva Friedenn, Robert Easter, and Ann Kindberg - per the end title card - purport that they dramatized actual events that took place in 1967. Trading the rural Texas sun for an urban Los Angeles apartment complex, the proto-slasher implements a host of weapons - from hammer and screwdriver to nail gun and power drill - to claim victims.

Toolbox feels like two different movies split down the middle then stitched together, which doesn't do the pacing any favors. The first half is a loosely connected series of lurid murder set pieces. More concerned with sensationalized violence than plot or character development, a particularly exploitative sequence sees a woman (adult film star Kelly Nichols) pleasure herself in a bathtub before being violently murdered with a nail gun. The latter half is still grimy but in a different way; it shares more in common with Lifetime melodramas than slasher flicks. The downbeat finale goes full bore into exploitation.

The through-line is Laurie (Pamelyn Ferdin, The Beguiled), a 15-year-old girl who's kidnapped by the killer, Vance Kingsley (Cameron Mitchell, Blood and Black Lace). (The killer wears a ski mask to hide his identity but there's little mystery given the body type, which may explain while the reveal is handled so matter-of-factly in the film.) When the police fail to act, Laurie's brother Joey (Nicholas Beauvy) and Vance's nephew Kent (Wesley Eure, Land of the Lost) team up to take the investigation into their own hands.

Mitchell almost single-handedly elevates The Toolbox Murders above its sleazy underpinnings. Not only does he lend gravitas to the picture, he fully commits to the role. Removing the ski mask about halfway through the 93-minute runtime allows the veteran actor to really chew the scenery. Although tonally incongruous, he veers into camp territory as he erratically exposits his religious mania. The other saving grace is director Dennis Donnelly, marking the only feature among a successful TV career helming the likes of Hawaii Five-O, Charlie's Angels, and The A-Team. It's clear that he has a vision, regardless of whether it connects with viewers and in spite of the low budget.

The Toolbox Murders has been restored in 4K from the uncut original negative with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos, 5.1 DTS-HD, and 1.0 DTS-HD audio options for Blue Underground's 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray release. Like the company’s recent restoration of Maniac - another movie that intertwines serial killer motifs, slasher tropes, and a dramatic character piece (albeit far more effectively) - the inherent grain and grit are retained.

In a new audio commentary, film historians Troy Howarth and Nathaniel Thompson analyze the picture and in the process make a strong argument that it's a giallo as much as it is a slasher. An archival track from the 2002 DVD finds Ferdin (watching the movie in full for the first time!), producer Tony DiDio, and director of photography Gary Graver (The Other Side of the Wind) being surprised by the fan base, praising Mitchell, and sharing their fond memories.

The Blu-ray disc has four new interviews: Donnelly enthusiastically recalls his excitement to make a horror movie; Eure explains how he had to beg the Days of Our Lives producers to allow him to take the part and the effect it had on him; Nichols details her career trajectory, from King Kong to adult films; and film historian David Del Valle remembers Mitchell, tracing his friend's unique career trajectory, attributing his work in The Toolbox Murders and other late-career B-movies to his IRS debt.

Film historian Amanda Reyes, teaming with director Chris O'Neill, delivers a video essay exploring the film's notoriety and themes of grief with a personal spin, as the on-screen emotion resonated with her own experience. Other special features include an archival interview with Nichols (covering much of the same ground as the new piece), the theatrical trailer, a TV spot, two radio spots, and a gallery of posters and stills.

The Toolbox Murders is available now on 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray via Blue Underground.

#the toolbox murders #toolbox murders #horror #70s horror #1970s horror #blue underground #dvd #gift #review #article #cameron mitchell #texas chainsaw massacre #kelly nichols #4k ultra hd #exploitation

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bluescarfvivi · 3 years

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Mystery March Day 3 - Alternate Universe

VIVI YUKINO - MOON ARCANA - THIRD YEAR @ YASOGAMI HIGH SCHOOL - GHOST ENTHUSIAST

Crossover? Alternate Universe? You may call it as you see it, but I’ve been in Persona brainrot for months now and it’s been affecting my muses. Most recently, our blue-scarfed leader of the Mystery Skulls crew. I’ll list out a few details I’ve already committed to memory on Vivi’s background, but I hope you enjoy!

Do note: These are headcanons for my depiction and interpretation of Vivi on my blog, however I do believe these could fit well with canon Vivi! People can go nuts and change things up if they wish! Another note: I’m placing her in Persona 4 since that was the first Persona game I played, and in my mind it makes the most sense for the Skulls crew. This could change entirely for a Persona 5 AU, but I haven’t thought of that....yet.

Vivi Yukino lives with her mother and grandmother in the quiet town of Inaba. Her dad isn’t around much as his job makes him travel across country for long periods of time. Granny Yukino is part of the town shrine’s board of directors, which schedules the events held in the area as well as taking care of its upkeep. Mrs. Yukino travels everyday to her job in Okina City. She’s in charge of the bookstore, which Vivi volunteers at on the weekends.

A third year at Yasogami High and one of the top in her class. She’s very smart, kind, approachable, and athletic too. She participates in the girl’s softball team, but on rainy days or off days you can find her hanging out in the library. Sometimes you can spot her outside Souzai Daigaku with a mound of steak skewers. At night, she loiters around Aiya or the Pub.

Her scarf never comes off. She always wears it with her uniform and her casual clothes. It’s her signature accessory!

Vivi’s OBSESSED with anything and everything paranormal! She’s got guide books, several ‘beginner’s kit to ghost hunting’ equipment, and lots of DVDs and manga focused on the supernatural. Hearing about the strange murders in town? A strange TV channel that only comes on at midnight on a rainy night? You bet she’s all OVER that!

Her dream is to move to the city one day and establish her own paranormal association, with branching networks to all of Japan and possibly across other countries. Things have always been quiet in Inaba, so when these murders start to become big, Vivi plays lone investigator hoping she can find clues and crack the case. It could lead her to gaining recognition in the paranormal field.

Vivi runs a paranormal blog on multiple online forums. This is how she comes to know Lewis and Arthur. They followed her for her posts, her writings, and down the line they reached out to her for discussions and sharing their own knowledge of the paranormal.

Now for the fun part. PERSONA TIME!!

Vivi’s dungeon would be based off the wintry forest we see in The Future video. Cold and consistently snowing, as if it’s trying to force a wedge between herself and those who wish to grow close with her. It’s a place where one can easily get lost including Vivi herself.

Her Persona would be based off a Yuki-onna, a spirit of a woman who appears to mortals on snowy evenings. The design can be loosely based off of Mushi the Ancestor. Once her Social Link is maxed out, her Persona transfigures into Takiyasha Hime.

As for attacks: of course her main element is ice. But on top of that, she can wield physical attacks (Skull Cracker, Rainy Death, Vorpal Blade), support skills (Dekunda, Masukukaja), and almighty attacks (Megido, Megidolan). There’s a few Light attacks she can learn as well. Her weapon of choice, of course, is the metallic baseball bat.

Now this part can be open for interpretation to canon Vivi, but this one is something I see on my depiction of Vivi. The snowflake pupil in her left eye and the small section of white hair are NOT present before she gains her Persona. They appear once she comes to terms with her inner self and accepts that power. Also, they ONLY appear anytime she slips into the TV world. Outside of that, her hair and both eyes appear as normal. Why do you ask? I haven’t thought that far yet.

That’s all I got for now! I must give credit to @ghxstgal for the art above! She did amazing and filled my crossover cravings. Hope you enjoy the read!

#mystery skulls animated #MysteryMarch2021 #mystery skulls #persona 4 #vivi yukino

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jimsmovieworld · 3 years

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HALLOWEEN 3: SEASON OF THE WITCH- 1982 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When Halloween 3 came out, it was received poorly by critics aswell as diehard Halloween fans who couldnt believe Michael Myers wasnt in it. The first time i saw this i was around 10 years old, having bought the dvd at a car boot sale, and turned it off after a while when i realised it was nothing to do with the other Halloween movies. I assumed it was a ripoff of some kind and not part of the same franchise. The second viewing didnt fair much better. Now in my mid 20s, i was sat in the back of the Grosvenor Cinema on the final film of an All Night Horror Madness. It was around 7am when Halloween 3 started, i was exhausted and kept being abruptly woken by the silver shamrock jingle. The third time was a charm. No longer a child and no longer tired, i watched the movie knowing there was no Michael Myers and this was its own story, and loved it. It tells the story of Dr Daniel Challis, played by horror legend Tom Atkins. He is an alcoholic doctor who gets all the ladies. After witnessing a patient killed in a bizarre murder suicide, he teams up with the patients daughter Linda to find out what happened. There investigation takes them to the creepy town of Santa Mira, which is ran by Conal Cochran, owner of Silver Shamrock mask company. Despite having very basic designs of things like a witch or a pumpkin, these masks are all the rage and we see kids all over America wearing them. Dr challis and Linda look around the town for clues and find evidence at Silver Shamrock that they were involver in her dads killing. The factory is patrolled by creepy suit wearing cyborgs. After capturing Dr Challis and Linda, Conal Cochran explains his masterplan. Demonstrating on a family being held in the factory, when the Silver Shamrock ad plays on tv it send a transmission to the mask which kills the child and releases deadly bugs and snakes. The scene where the family are killed is really well done and quite shocking. With not long to go til the deadly ads play on air, Dr Challis has to try and escape and stop them from being played. We find out before he went to Santa Mira that his own kids own Silver Shamrock masks. In recent years Halloween 3 has developed a definite fanbase and is now seen as a cult movie. Its quite beloved in some circles and i can see why, the atmosphere of the movie is great, has an excellent score done by John Carpenter. Some good links to the previous halloween movies. The trailer for the original Halloween plays on tv at one point. Jamie Lee Curtis does a voice cameo and Dick Warlock returns to play one of the cyborgs. I think if this movie had been released as just Season of the Witch and not a halloween movie it would have faired a lot better. But it all worked out in the end. Very much enjoyed seeing the classic Silver Shamrock masks used in the new David Gordon Green Halloween movies. This is probably in my top 5 Halloween movies. Excellent film directed by Tommy Lee Wallace.

One of my favourite movies.

#halloween 3 #season of the witch #horror movies #80s movies #movie reviews

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learningrendezvous · 3 years

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Women's Studies

BELLY OF THE BEAST

By Erika Cohn, Angela Tucker, Christen Marquez, and Nicole Docta

Filmed over seven years with extraordinary access and intimate accounts from currently and formerly incarcerated people, BELLY OF THE BEAST exposes a pattern of illegal sterilizations, modern-day eugenics and reproductive injustice in California prisons.

When a courageous young woman and a radical lawyer discover a pattern of illegal sterilizations in California's women's prisons, they wage a near-impossible battle against the Department of Corrections. With a growing team of investigators inside prison working with colleagues on the outside, they uncover a series of statewide crimes -- from inadequate health care to sexual assault to coercive sterilizations -- primarily targeting women of color. This shocking legal drama captured over 7-years features extraordinary access and intimate accounts from currently and formerly incarcerated people, demanding attention to a shameful and ongoing legacy of eugenics and reproductive injustice in the United States.

DVD (Color, Closed Captioned) / 2020 / 81 minutes

GLOW: A WILD RIDE TO HEAVEN

Director: Gabriel Baur

"Someone who glows so brightly is not going to grow old," Fellini once prophesied about Irene Staub, aka Lady Shiva, one of the greatest of all Swiss divas. Thanks to her aura and talent, many doors opened for Irene during Zurich's exuberant years between 1968 and the late 1980s. Discovered by a pioneer of Swiss fashion design, she made the break from streetwalking to being part of the fashionable art scene. Finding work as a model, she also pursued her dream of becoming a singer, starting out in a legendary Zurich underground band. But Lady Shiva lived life in the fast lane; torn between the stress and strain of success, a yearning for freedom, and self-destructive urges, she died far too young under circumstances that have never been fully explained.

Using never-before-seen archival footage and interviews with prominent contemporaries, director Gabriel Baur brings us back to a vibrant age of boundless possibilities, in which the sky seemed the only limit for people like Lady Shiva...an age that to this day still kindles a yearning in us.

DVD (German with English Subtitles) / 2020 / 100 minutes

I'M MOSHANTY - DO YOU LOVE ME?

Director: Tim Wolff

The world's second largest island, Papua New Guinea is one of the most dangerous places to be a woman, with 70% reporting that they experienced domestic violence and sexual violence before the age of 15. Sorcery accusation killings and family violence take the lives of thousands of women every year and HIV infection rates are the highest in the Pacific. Transgender women are most often homeless, unemployed, denied education and medical care and living under the constant threat of robbery, rape and murder.

I'm Moshanty - Do You Love Me? Is a musical tribute to the late, legendary South Pacific recording artist and transgender activist Moses Moshanty Tau and the LGBTQI community of Papua New Guinea. With their lives still haunted by colonial-era sodomy laws and deadly religious bigotry, Moshanty stands as a beacon of hope for the transgender and LGBTQI community of the entire South Pacific.

Filmed over a weekend in the fall of 2017 and including her last live performances, the film celebrates the transgender activist with a mother's heart, teeth of gold and a voice like a coronet. Hear her journey from a tiny Motuan village to the top of the regional music industry. In her last interview, she shares her personal truth and her greatest desires as a woman with her millions of fans.

In 2017, a diagnosis of throat cancer threatens to silence the activist and a failed surgery leaves her unable to sing. Finally, an entire nation, from ordinary citizens to Ministers of Parliament, is asked to grieve for their brightest light and their most heavenly voice. Who could ever sing the songs of Moshanty?

DVD (English, Tok Pisin, With English Subtitles) / 2020 / 57 minutes

ALL WE'VE GOT

By Alexis Clements

ALL WE'VE GOT is a personal exploration of LGBTQI women's communities, cultures, and social justice work through the lens of the physical spaces they create, from bars to bookstores to arts and political hubs.

Social groups rely on physical spaces to meet and build connections, step outside oppressive social structures, avoid policing and violence, share information, provide support, and organize politically. Yet, in the past decade, more than 100 bars, bookstores, art and community spaces where LGBTQI women gather have closed. In ALL WE'VE GOT, filmmaker Alexis Clements travels the country to explore the factors driving the loss of these spaces, understand why some are able to endure, and to search for community among the ones that remain. From a lesbian bar in Oklahoma; to the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center in San Antonio run by queer Latinas; to the WOW Cafe Theatre in New York; to the public gatherings organized by the Trans Ladies Picnics around the US and beyond; to the Lesbian Herstory Archives in Brooklyn, the film takes us into diverse LGBTQI spaces and shines a light on why having a place to gather matters. Ultimately, ALL WE'VE GOT is a celebration of the history and resilience of the LGBTQI community and the inclusive spaces they make, as well as a call to action to continue building stronger futures for all communities.

DVD (Color) / 2019 / 67 minutes

BLACK FEMINIST

By Zanah Thirus

BLACK FEMINIST is a lively and illuminating documentary that explores the double-edged sword of racial and gender oppression that Black Women face in America.

Frustrated by the lack of intersectionality in the women's movement and the misogyny plaguing the Black liberation movement, filmmaker Zanah Thirus set out to shine a light on the complexities and power of Black feminism. Featuring interviews with a wide range of scholars, writers, business owners, veterans and comedians including former Ebony Editor-in-Chief Kyra Kyles, professor Carrie Morris, and author Tami Winfrey Harris, the film lays bare the everyday lived experiences of Black Women everywhere.

DVD (Color, Closed Captioned) / 2019 / 53 minutes

NICE CHINESE GIRLS DON'T: KITTY TSUI

By Jennifer Abod

Nice Chinese Girls Don't is a portrait of Kitty Tsui -- an iconic Asian American lesbian, poet, artist, activist, writer, and bodybuilder who came of age in the early days of the Women's Liberation Movement in San Francisco.

In Nice Chinese Girls Don't, Kitty Tsui recounts her emergence as a poet, artist, activist, writer, and bodybuilder in the early days of the Women's Liberation Movement in San Francisco. She narrates her experience of arriving to the States as an immigrant from Hong Kong by way of her own original poetry and stories.

Tsui wrote the groundbreaking Words of a Woman Who Breathes Fire, the first book written by an Asian American lesbian. She is considered by many to be one of the foremothers of the API, Asian Pacific Islander, lesbian feminist movement.

In 2018, APIQWTC, Asian Pacific Islander Queer Women & Transgender Community honored her with the Phoenix Award for lifetime achievement. In 2019, her alma mater, San Francisco State University inducted Tsui into the Alumni Hall of Fame. Her forthcoming books include Nice Chinese Girls Don't, Battle Cry: Poems of Love & Resistance, and Fire Power: Poems of Love & Resilience. Tsui currently lives in Oakland, California, and is writing a screenplay, Unmasked.

DVD (Color, Closed Captioned) / 2019 / 20 minutes

NO TIME TO WASTE: THE URGENT MISSION OF BETTY REID SOSKIN

Directed by Carl Bidleman

Celebrates legendary 99-year-old park ranger Betty Reid Soskin's inspiring life, work and urgent mission to restore critical missing chapters of America's story.

NO TIME TO WASTE celebrates legendary 99-year-old park ranger Betty Reid Soskin's inspiring life, work and urgent mission to restore critical missing chapters of America's story. The film follows her journey as an African American woman presenting her personal story from a kitchen stool in a national park theater to media interviews and international audiences who hang on every word she utters.

The documentary captures her fascinating lifeâ€”from the experiences of a young Black woman in a WWII segregated union hall, through her multi-faceted career as a singer, activist, mother, legislative representative and park planner to her present public role.

At the Rosie the Riveter/WWII Home Front National Historical Park, Betty illuminates the invisible histories of African Americans and other people of color. Her efforts have changed the way the National Park Service conveys this history to audiences across the U.S., challenging us all to move together toward a more perfect union.

DVD / 2019 / (Grades 7-12, College, Adults) / 52 minutes

NORMAL GIRL, A

Directed by Aubree Bernier-Clarke By Shawna Lipton, Pidgeon Pagonis

A NORMAL GIRL brings the widely unknown struggles of intersex people to light through the story of intersex activist Pidgeon Pagonis.

Activist Pidgeon Pagonis was born intersex, not conforming to standard definitions of male or female, and experienced genital mutilation as a child. Now Pidgeon is fighting the medical establishment, seeking to end medically unnecessary surgeries and human rights abuses on intersex people in the United States and around the world.

An estimated 1.5% of the population is born with intersex traits. While most of these babies are healthy, their bodies are treated as a medical emergency. It is common practice for doctors to perform genital surgeries on intersex infants--often with disastrous results including total loss of genital sensation, lifetime synthetic hormone dependence, and being assigned a gender with which they do not identify.

Through the story of Pidgeon's remarkable journey and fight for bodily self-determination, A NORMAL GIRL brings the widely unknown struggles of intersex people to light.

DVD (Color, Closed Captioned) / 2019 / 14 minutes

SHUSENJO: COMFORT WOMEN AND JAPAN'S WAR ON HISTORY

Director: Miki Dezaki

One of the most heated issues in Japan and Asia today is over something that occurred 80 years ago: the Japanese Imperial Army's sexual enslavement of an estimated tens of thousands of Korean women and others in military brothels during World War II. Many nationalist Japanese conservatives (with the surprising support of Western media influencers) believe the women were mostly willing prostitutes, not 'sex slaves', and that the estimated number is far smaller than are claimed. But contemporary historians, activists and - most significantly - the surviving victims and their families, believe otherwise; the denial of their suffering so long ago has created an entirely new trauma.

Director Miki Dezaki, a second-generation Japanese American who learned about comfort women from his Japanese immigrant parents, questions why accounts in the Western media have often sided with the Nationalists. With a keen eye for detail and precision, he interviews historians, advocates and lawyers who discuss the evidence: historical documents related to the Japanese military's direct role in managing the brothels, and harrowing testimonies by former comfort women. 'Shusenjo' is a deep dive into this impassioned subject - bringing to light the hidden intentions of the supporters and detractors of comfort women.

DVD (English, Japanese, Korean with English Subtitles) / 2019 / 120 minutes

ARCHIVETTES, THE

By Megan Rossman

For more than 40 years, the Lesbian Herstory Archives has combated lesbian invisibility by literally rescuing history from the trash.

Founded in the 1970s in a New York City apartment, The Lesbian Herstory Archives is now the world's largest collection of materials by and about lesbians. For more than 40 years, the all-volunteer organization has striven to combat lesbian invisibility by literally rescuing history from the trash.

Frustrated by misogyny and homophobia within academia, Deborah Edel and Joan Nestle co-founded the archives for those conducting research, both professional and personal. Over the years, the organization has witnessed many of the major milestones in LGBTQ+ history and has weathered several storms. Today, with its founders in their seventies, the archives are facing new challenges, including a change in leadership and the rise of digital technology.

Exploring the fascinating origins of the organization, THE ARCHIVETTES is a tribute to second-wave feminism and intergenerational connection, as well as an urgent rallying cry for continued activism in a politically charged moment.

DVD (Color, Closed Captioned) / 2018 / 61 minutes

FEMALE PLEASURE

By Barbara Miller

#FEMALE PLEASURE accompanies five extraordinary women around the globe fighting to reclaim female sexuality.

The film introduces us to author Deborah Feldman from Brooklyn's Hasidic community, sex educator Vitika Yadav in India, manga artist Rokudenashiko in Japan, Somali activist Leyla Hussein, and former nun Doris Wagner in Europe, courageous women who are all struggling to end the harmful cultural practices like genital mutilation and the shaming of the female orgasm that lie at the root of rape culture and patriarchy. Not only highlighting the issues that have contributed to the sexual marginalization of women, the film also calls these atrocities, embedded within cultural and religious norms, by their actual names: rape, assault, child trafficking, abuse. We witness these female activists who were taught to be silent confronting the very entities that have oppressed them.

Both an urgent call to action and an empowering plea for self-determined joyful female sexuality, #FEMALE PLEASURE is ultimately an inspiring tool to help women, no matter their cultural or religious background, to reclaim their bodies and celebrate their sexuality without shame or suffering.

DVD (English, Japanese, German, Color, Closed Captioned) / 2018 / 101 minutes

TO A MORE PERFECT UNION: U.S. V. WINDSOR

Director: Donna Zaccaro

To A More Perfect Union: U.S. v. Windsor tells a story of love, marriage and a fight for equality. The film chronicles two unlikely heroes, octogenarian Edie Windsor and her attorney, Roberta Kaplan, on their quest for justice: Edie had been forced to pay a huge estate tax bill upon the death of her spouse because the federal government denied federal benefits to same-sex couples...and Edie's spouse was a woman.

Deeply offended by this lack of recognition of her 40+ year relationship with the love of her life, Edie decided to sue the United States government - and won. Beyond the story of this pivotal case in the marriage equality movement, the film also tells the story of our journey as a people, as a culture, and as citizens with equal rights.

Windsor and Kaplan's legal and personal journeys are told in their own words, and through interviews with others, including Lillian Faderman, a leading scholar on LGBTQ history, and Evan Wolfson, who first at Lambda Legal and later as founder of Freedom to Marry was the godfather of marriage equality in the US and now worldwide. Legal observers, including Jeffrey Toobin from CNN and Nina Totenberg of National Public Radio, also lend their insights.

DVD / 2018 / 63 minutes

WE ARE THE RADICAL MONARCHS

Directed by Linda Goldstein Knowlton

Follows the Radical Monarchs, a group of young girls of color on the frontlines of social justice.

Set in Oakland, a city with a deep history of social justice movements, WE ARE THE RADICAL MONARCHS documents the Radical Monarchs--an alternative to the Scout movement for girls of color, aged 8-13. Its members earn badges for completing units on social justice including being an LGBTQ ally, the environment, and disability justice.

The group was started by two fierce, queer women of color, Anayvette Martinez and Marilyn Hollinquest as a way to address and center her daughter's experience as a young brown girl. Their work is anchored in the belief that adolescent girls of color need dedicated spaces and that the foundation for this innovative work must also be rooted in fierce inter-dependent sisterhood, self-love, and hope.

The film follows the first troop of Radical Monarchs for over three years, until they graduate, and documents the Co-Founders' struggle to respond to the needs of communities across the US and grow the organization after the viral explosion of interest in the troop's mission to create and inspire a new generation of social justice activists.

DVD / 2018 / (Grades 4-12, College, Adults) / 86 minutes

YOURS IN SISTERHOOD

By Irene Lusztig

YOURS IN SISTERHOOD is a performative, participatory documentary inspired by the breadth and complexity of letters that were sent in the 1970s to the editor of Ms.- America's first mainstream feminist magazine. The film documents hundreds of strangers from around the U.S. who were invited to read aloud and respond to these letters written by women, men and children from diverse backgrounds. Collectively, the letters feel like an encyclopedia of both the 70s and the women's movement- an almost literal invocation of the second-wave feminist slogan "the personal is political." The intimate, provocative, and sometimes heartbreaking conversations that emerge from these performances invite viewers to think about the past, present, and future of feminism.

DVD (Color) / 2018 / 101 minutes

FEMINISTA: A JOURNEY TO THE HEART OF FEMINISM IN EUROPE

By Myriam Fougere

FEMINISTA is a lively and inspiring feminist road movie that explores the largely unrecognized yet hugely vibrant pan European feminist movement. Filmmaker Myriam Fougere joined an international group of young feminists who were traveling across twenty countries â€“ from Turkey to Portugal, by the way of the Balkans, to Italy, Spain and Portugal â€“ to make connections and unite forces with other women. She witnessed these determined activists participating in political gatherings, supporting homegrown local feminist struggles, exchanging strategies, and inventing new ways to resist and fight for change. Revealing how feminism is transmitted from one generation to another, FEMINISTA provides a rare glimpse into a widespread feminist groundswell movement, possibly one of the largest and unrecognized mass political movements that is very much alive and well throughout Europe today.

DVD (Color) / 2017 / 60 minutes

FINE LINE, A (EDUCATIONAL VERSION)

Directed by Joanna James

Explores why less than 7% of head chefs and restaurant owners are women, when traditionally women have always held the central role in the kitchen.

Featuring intimate interviews with world-renowned chefs like Dominique Crenn, Lidia Bastianich, Cat Cora, Elena Arzak, Elizabeth Falkner, Maria Loi, Sylvia Weinstock, Michael Anthony and others, A FINE LINE explores pressing issues faced by women in the culinary arts and across all industries, including sexual and workplace harassment, access to capital, unequal pay, and lack of paid family leave and affordable childcare.

An uplifting American success story about perseverance, family, and food, A FINE LINE follows the personal story of Valerie James, a small town restaurateur with a larger than life personality who raised Joanna as a single mother on a mission to do what she loves while raising two kids and the odds stacked against her.

DVD / 2017 / (Grades 7-12, College, Adults) / 56 minutes

CATCHING SIGHT OF THELMA & LOUISE

Directed by Jennifer Townsend

Explores the same women's and men's reactions to the groundbreaking film, "Thelma & Louise", 25 years ago and today.

Powerful, authentic, and timely, CATCHING SIGHT OF THELMA & LOUISE dives off the edge into the truth of women's experience in the world. It revisits the journey of Thelma & Louise through the lens of viewers who saw that iconic film in 1991 and shared intimate, personal, stories at that time. The same women and men were tracked down 25 years later. Are their responses different now? Has anything changed in the way women are treated?

Interview commentary mixes with clips from "Thelma & Louise" to reveal why this cinema classic continues to resonate with millions of viewers, the world over. Christopher McDonald, who played Thelma's husband, and Marco St. John, who played the truck driver, offer an insider's viewpoint.

DVD / 2016 / (Grades 10-12, College, Adults) / 86 minutes

REVIVAL, THE: WOMEN AND THE WORD

By Sekiya Dorsett

THE REVIVAL: WOMEN AND THE WORD chronicles the US tour of a group of Black lesbian poets and musicians, who become present-day stewards of a historical movement to build community among queer women of color. Their journey to strengthen their community is enriched by insightful interviews with leading Black feminist thinkers and historians, including Dr. Alexis Pauline Gumbs, Nikki Finney, and Alexis Deveaux. As the group tours the country, the film reveals their aspirations and triumphs, as well as the unique identity challenges they face encompassing gender, race, and sexuality. This is a rarely seen look into a special sisterhood - one where marginalized voices are both heard and respected.

DVD (Color, Closed Captioned) / 2016 / 82 minutes

SIBERIAN LOVE

By Olga Delane

In rural Siberia, romantic expectations are traditional and practical. The man is the head of the household. The woman takes care of the housekeeping and the children. But filmmaker Olga Delane doesn't agree. While she was born in this small Siberian village, as a teenager she migrated to Berlin with her family, and 20 years of living in Germany has changed her expectations. SIBERIAN LOVE follows Delane home to her community of birth, where she interviews family and neighbors about their lives and relationships. Amusing and moving, this elegant film paints a picture of a world completely outside of technology, a hard-farming community where life is hard and marriage is sometimes unhappy - but where there are also unexpected paths to joy and family togetherness. Through clashing ideals of modern and traditional womanhood, SIBERIAN LOVE is a fascinating study of a country little known in the US and of a rural community that raises questions about domesticity, gender expectations, domestic abuse, childcare, and romance. Excellent for anthropology, women's studies, sociology, Russian and Eastern European Studies.

DVD (Color) / 2016 / 82 minutes

VOICES OF MUSLIM WOMEN FROM THE US SOUTH

By Maha Marouan and Rachel Raimist

When one thinks of the American Deep South, the image of veiled Muslim students strolling the University of Alabama campus is the last thing that comes to mind. VOICES OF MUSLIM WOMEN FROM THE US SOUTH is a documentary that explores the Muslim culture through the lens of five University of Alabama Muslim students. The film tackles how Muslim women carve a space for self-expression in the Deep South and how they negotiate their identities in a predominantly Christian society that often has unflattering views about Islam and Muslims. Through interviews with students and faculty at Alabama, this film examines representations and issues of agency by asking: How do Muslim female students carve a space in a culture that thinks of Muslims as terrorists and Muslim women as backward?

DVD (Color) / 2015 / 32 minutes

http://www.learningemall.com/News/Women_202101.html

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papermoonloveslucy · 3 years

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THE WILLS

March 19, 1950

“The Wills” (aka “The Coopers Make Their Wills”) is episode #80 of the radio series MY FAVORITE HUSBAND broadcast on March 19, 1950.

Synopsis ~ After Liz and George make out their wills, Liz is convinced that George intends to do away with her. Liz is startled to find a receipt for some arsenic and rope in his pocket, but is shocked when George suggests a trip to the country - with a one-way ticket for Liz!

Starting with this episode, “My Favorite Husband” moved from Thursday nights, to Sunday nights.

Note: This program was used as a basis for a scene in “I Love Lucy” episode “Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying to Murder Her” (ILL S1;E4) filmed on September 8, 1951 and first aired November 5, 1951. For various reasons, it was the first episode of the series filmed, but the fourth aired.

“My Favorite Husband” was based on the novels Mr. and Mrs. Cugat, the Record of a Happy Marriage (1940) and Outside Eden (1945) by Isabel Scott Rorick, which had previously been adapted into the film Are Husbands Necessary? (1942). “My Favorite Husband” was first broadcast as a one-time special on July 5, 1948. Lucille Ball and Lee Bowman played the characters of Liz and George Cugat, and a positive response to this broadcast convinced CBS to launch “My Favorite Husband” as a series. Bowman was not available Richard Denning was cast as George. On January 7, 1949, confusion with bandleader Xavier Cugat prompted a name change to Cooper. On this same episode Jell-O became its sponsor. A total of 124 episodes of the program aired from July 23, 1948 through March 31, 1951. After about ten episodes had been written, writers Fox and Davenport departed and three new writers took over – Bob Carroll, Jr., Madelyn Pugh, and head writer/producer Jess Oppenheimer. In March 1949 Gale Gordon took over the existing role of George’s boss, Rudolph Atterbury, and Bea Benadaret was added as his wife, Iris. CBS brought “My Favorite Husband” to television in 1953, starring Joan Caulfield and Barry Nelson as Liz and George Cooper. The television version ran two-and-a-half seasons, from September 1953 through December 1955, running concurrently with “I Love Lucy.” It was produced live at CBS Television City for most of its run, until switching to film for a truncated third season filmed (ironically) at Desilu and recasting Liz Cooper with Vanessa Brown.

MAIN CAST

Lucille Ball (Liz Cooper) was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. With Richard Denning, she starred in a radio program titled “My Favorite Husband” which eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death in 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon.

Richard Denning (George Cooper) was born Louis Albert Heindrich Denninger Jr., in Poughkeepsie, New York. When he was 18 months old, his family moved to Los Angeles. Plans called for him to take over his father’s garment manufacturing business, but he developed an interest in acting. Denning enlisted in the US Navy during World War II. He is best known for his roles in various science fiction and horror films of the 1950s. Although he teamed with Lucille Ball on radio in “My Favorite Husband,” the two never acted together on screen. While “I Love Lucy” was on the air, he was seen on another CBS TV series, “Mr. & Mrs. North.” From 1968 to 1980 he played the Governor on “Hawaii 5-0″, his final role. He died in 1998 at age 84.

Gale Gordon (Rudolph Atterbury) had worked with Lucille Ball on “The Wonder Show” on radio in 1938. One of the front-runners to play Fred Mertz on “I Love Lucy,” he eventually played Alvin Littlefield, owner of the Tropicana, during two episodes in 1952. After playing a Judge in an episode of “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour” in 1958, he would re-team with Lucy for all of her subsequent series’: as Theodore J. Mooney in ”The Lucy Show”; as Harrison Otis Carter in “Here’s Lucy”; and as Curtis McGibbon on “Life with Lucy.” Gordon died in 1995 at the age of 89.

Bea Benadaret (Iris Atterbury) does not appear in this episode.

Ruth Perrott (Katie, the Maid) was also later seen on “I Love Lucy.” She first played Mrs. Pomerantz (above right), a member of the surprise investigating committee for the Society Matrons League in “Pioneer Women” (ILL S1;E25), as one of the member of the Wednesday Afternoon Fine Arts League in “Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress” (ILL S3;E3), and also played a nurse when “Lucy Goes to the Hospital” (ILL S2;E16). She died in 1996 at the age of 96.

Bob LeMond (Announcer) also served as the announcer for the pilot episode of “I Love Lucy”. When the long-lost pilot was finally discovered in 1990, a few moments of the opening narration were damaged and lost, so LeMond – fifty years later – recreated the narration for the CBS special and subsequent DVD release.

GUEST CAST

Herb Vigran (Doctor Stephens) made several appearances on “My Favorite Husband.” He would later play Jule, Ricky’s music union agent on two episodes of “I Love Lucy”. He would go on to play Joe (and Mrs. Trumbull’s nephew), the washing machine repairman in “Never Do Business With Friends” (S2;E31) and Al Sparks, the publicity man who hires Lucy and Ethel to play Martians on top of the Empire State Building in “Lucy is Envious” (S3;E23). Of his 350 screen roles, he also made six appearances on “The Lucy Show.”

EPISODE

ANNOUNCER: “As we look in on the Coopers tonight, it's just after dinner, and we find Liz and George settling down to a normal evening's conversation.”

George has something he needs to talk to Liz about. Liz immediately thinks it is something to do with her household budget, but George wants to talk about their wills. The subject immediately upsets Liz. The idea of living without George sends Liz into gales of tears. George wants her to read it, and threatens to leave everything to his mother if she doesn’t. Liz snatches the will from him. George then tells her that he has had her will drawn up as well.

LIZ: “What for? You're the one who's going! What are you trying to do, push me ahead of you in line?”

George reminds her of the three acres of Florida beachfront property that her father left her, which she calls ‘Sunken Acres.’ George always assumed it was oil land.

LIZ: “If there's any oil down there, it's still in a whale. Oh! I see it all now, George! You want me to sign a will leaving everything to you, and then you'll bump me off! You want to get your dirty fishhooks on my oil holdings!

Liz agrees to read and sign the will as the scene fades out. At the bank the next day, Mr. Atterbury notices that George seems tired. George admits he was up late talking to Liz about their wills. Mr. Atterbury proposes that the Coopers join him and Iris at their mountain lodge for the weekend, flying up, and then leaving the girls there for the week while they fly back for work. The following weekend they will drive up to get them in Mr. Atterbury’s new car.

Mr. Atterbury has already bought the airline tickets and asks George to go to the hardware store for a few items.

MR. ATTERBERRY: “I need poison for those horrible little gophers up there. And some rope for a clothesline, and a couple of sacks of cement. Iris wants a patio so she can sunbathe. Come to think of it, that ought to keep the gophers away.” GEORGE: “Let me make a list on the back of this envelope. Now, poison, ropes, cement...” MR. ATTERBERRY: “Oh, and I need an axe, too.”

Mr. Atterbury tells George that they should tell their wives that they are just going for a weekend, so that they don’t rush out to buy a week’s worth of new clothes.

At the Cooper home, Katie the Maid is preparing dinner. George comes home and tells Liz the good news that they’ll be going to the Atterbury’s lodge this weekend, and he’s got the airline tickets in his pocket. As George goes upstairs to prepare for dinner, Katie reminds Liz that she has a beauty shop appointment on Saturday. Liz wonders what time the plane leaves, and fishes in George’s jacket pocket to check the tickets. She notices that one tickets is round trip, and the other is one way! Liz immediately assumes one of them isn’t coming back, and reminds Katie that George asked her to sign her will! She notices some writing on the envelope that looks like a shopping list.

LIZ: “Poison! He's going to take me out in the woods and poison me! Look, at the next item - rope. If the poison doesn't work, he's gonna hang me! Cement. If I live through the poison and the rope, he's gonna put my feet in cement and dump me in the lake! Look what's next - axe! If I able to hold my breath, he's gonna swim in the water and chop me to pieces!” KATIE: “Oh, how can Mr. Cooper do such a thing?” LIZ: “With that list of weapons, how can he miss?“

Liz realizes why George might want to do away with her - they’ve finally struck oil on Sunken Acres!

End of Part One

Announcer Bob LeMond reads a live Jell-O commercial.

ANNOUNCCER: “As we return to the Coopers, we find Liz in a state of nervous apprehension. After years of having George under her thumb, she's suddenly discovered that he's bout to put the finger on her. Or at least she thinks he is. But right now it's after dinner, and Liz, the intended victim, is in the living room, reading. While George, the killer, is slowly stalking up behind her.”

George kisses Liz on the back of the neck. She screams! Liz nervously says that she’d rather not go to the Atterbury’s lodge this weekend.

GEORGE: “What? Why, Liz, you love the lodge. You always say that's your idea of living.” LIZ: “Well, I want to keep it that way.”

George says that he has a big surprise for her up there. Liz suggests he take his mother and give HER the big surprise!

GEORGE: “Now, don't be silly! You just wait: When you wake up Monday morning, you'll be very pleasantly surprised.” LIZ: “If I wake up Monday morning, I'll be surprised.”

Liz wonders if George is having money problems. She asks him why he made her sign her will last night. George says that if it bothers her so much, he’ll tear it up - as soon as they get back from the lodge.

Liz runs to her bedroom and locks the door! George telephones Dr. Stephens (Herb Vigran) to report that Liz is acting peculiar.

DOCTOR: “Peculiar for Liz, or peculiar for normal people?”

RICKY RICARDO: “Lucy is acting crazy!” FRED MERTZ: “Crazy for Lucy or crazy for ordinary people?”

This joke was adapted for Lucy Ricardo in “Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying To Do Murder Her” with Fred Mertz taking the Doctor’s line.

Doctor Stephens cannot make a house call because he’s got an appointment with his psychoanalyst, but he tells George to give Liz a sedative until he can get there.

Liz comes in for a glass of water. George tells her that he’s had Katie prepare them some hot milk. In the kitchen, Katie tells Liz that she saw Mr. Cooper pour a powder into one of the glasses. Liz says she’ll just switch the glasses so that George drinks the one with the powder in it.

In the living room she distracts George just long enough to switch the glasses. But when George lifts his glass to drink, Liz dashes it from his hand. She says she couldn’t do it to him, even if he could do it to her.

LIZ: “You put something in my glass, didn't you, George? Well, I fooled you! I switched glasses!” GEORGE: “I had a hunch that's why Katie called you, so I switched them again while you were out of the room.”

Liz starts to gag as if she’s been poisoned! Liz falls to the floor, convinced she is going to die, trying to make peace with George in her final moments.

LIZ: “If I had my life to live over again, I want you to know I'd do better. I could stay within the budget, if I tried. (coughs) And I'd never buy clothes I need. (coughs) I'd throw away my charge-a-plate.”

The doorbell rings. It is Mr. Atterbury, come to make the ‘final arrangements.’ Liz tells George that she saw the one way ticket, and the shopping list for poison and the axe. The men dissolve in laughter. Mr. Atterbury explains that those were supplies for the lodge. Liz is angry that she’s been tricked, and refuses to keep the promises she made in her ‘final moments’.

LIZ: "I didn't know what I was saying! I was under the influence of warm milk!”

End of Episode

In the live Jell-O commercial, Lucille Ball plays a Mexican spy, and Bob LeMond is interviewing her for a job.

In the bedtime tag, it is five in the morning and George is reading a suspenseful magazine story. Liz begs him to turn out the light, but then can’t sleep until he knows the outcome of the story. Liz grabs the magazine and reads the last lines.

LIZ: “The huge, shapeless thing crept slowly up behind Mildred, and before she could scream it slipped its bony hands around her - Oh, no!!!” GEORGE: “What does it say, Liz? Around her what?” LIZ: “Around her continued next week! Good night!”

ANNOUNCER: “You have been listening to ‘My Favorite Husband’ starring Lucille Ball, with Richard Denning, and based on characters created by Isobel Scott Rorick. Tonight's transcribed program was produced and directed by Jess Oppenheimer, who wrote the script with Madelyn Pugh and Bob Carroll, Jr. Be sure to get the April Issue of ‘Radio Mirror Magazine’ with the big picture of Lucille Ball on the cover. That's the April issue of ‘Radio Mirror Magazine.’ Original music was composed by Marlin Skyles and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. Bob LeMond speaking.”

#My Favorite Husband #Lucille Ball #Richard Denning #Gale Gordon #I Love Lucy #Ruth Perrott #Bob LeMond #Herb Vigran #radio #CBS #Radio Mirror #The Wills #Jello

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werewolfbarbie · 4 years

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Top 5 Favorite Movies to Watch During Halloween

Hey guys! Well it’s a nice cold brisk night, I’m working overnight at the clinic, and TCM is playing “The Tingler”, so I’m in the mood to talk about my favorite Halloween Movies!! This one was tough cuz I have ALOT of movies from Classics to Modern. But I looked at my list and narrowed it down to the films I HAVE to watch every Halloween. Now Nightmare Before Christmas is one of them but I’m saving that one for my favorite Halloween Musicals. So here we go! 1. Fright Night (the 2011 Remake): when a young man finds out his new neighbor is a vampire that is targeting his mother, he turns to a has been hunter for help. I LOVE this movie. Not only because it has David Tennent in a sexy hunter suit an some hilarious one liners, but Anton Yelchin (RIP:() was a very likable protagonist. And of course Colin Farrell was a great antagonist. I haven’t seen the original film yet, but I really want to! @breakfast-owl and I plan on watching it in November and I can’t wait. (Chris Sarandon? Yes Please!) ...................................................................................................................

2. Scooby Doo on Zombie Island: after retiring from sleuthing and going their separate ways, the Mystery Gang team up once again to travel to Moonscar Island, and discover something they never have before; real monsters. Okay so you’ve heard the stories of Little Janny and now I’m going to take you back once again. For those of us growing up in the 90s, Scooby Doo was the simple predictable (but fun) plot: gang travels to place, place is haunted, gang finds out place is not haunted, gang reveals monster is person in a mask. So imagine if you will for moment, Little Janny is sitting in front of the TV, the trailer for Zombie Island comes on Cartoon Network and the announcer says “This time, the monsters are real.” Well for me and several other 90′s kids, that was both terrifying and exciting!! Since then there have been Scooby cases where it’s all real (and even a crossover with SPN), but this is the film that started it all. This film is a tradition for me and Kayla, every Halloween we always watch this one and the one coming next on the list. It’s so much fun. .........................................................................................................................

3. Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet the Wolfman: While walking home from play rehearsal, Theodore is attacked by a werewolf, causing him to transform. Now his brothers, Alvin and Simon must find a way to help lift the curse before he is doomed to be a werewolf forever. So most of you who know me are aware I am a HUGE AatC fan. I have seen every adaption (and I will admit I do sometimes enjoy the real life movies. Sometimes.) I love this movie. The music, the story, and it is REALLY funny. I laugh harder watching this film than any of the Chipmunk films. I also love how it’s tide to original story of Lawrence Talbot. If you love the Chipmunks as much as I do this is a must see!! .........................................................................................................................

4. Sleepy Hollow: When a series of murders are happening in the sleepy colonial town of (get it) Sleepy Hollow, eccentric detective Ichabod Crane is sent to investigate. (btw thank you @breakfast-owl for the dvd of this movie!) So let’s take another trip down memory lane. Little Janny was so excited to read her first chapter book. No matter how it long it took, she was going to read this book from beginning to end all by herself! She went to her school’s library and checked out the book that looked the most fun. For her, okay for me, it was The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving. That’s my favorite memory of this story. It’s not a long book but it’s a real haunting tale. To be honest, I’m surprised I wanted to read this story given how terrified I was of the cartoon. Headless monsters and anyone loosing their heads in general really freaked me out as a kid! But I guess as long as I didn’t have to see the headless Horseman I was fine. Guess how Little Janny reacted to the trailer for this movie :D.... Yeah for the longest time this film scared the ever loving hell out of me. But somewhere down the road I fell in love with all things Tim Burton and this movie was one of them that has made it’s way into my heart. I love how the reimagining of this story. How Ichabod is no longer a teacher that is popular in the town, but is now a detective (played by the amazing Johnny Depp) with a chilling backstory. The Horseman is played by Christopher Walken, need I say more? So there ya go!! fun night!!

........................................................................................................................ 5. Young Frankenstein: Mel Brook’s parody of the Frankenstein story tells the tale of Dr Frankenstein’s grandson who is ashamed of his grandfather’s work. Yet when he finds out he has inherited his grandfather’s castle, he finds himself enamored in his studies and tries to bring the dead back to life. Okay this movie. THIS MOVIE. I can’t even begin to tell you how hilarious this film is. Mel Brooks is the genius of parody. I don’t even want to go to much into it and spoil all the fun, but I will tell you after watching this film you WILL be quoting it. Just watch it. Just do. And that’s my list! I plan to do favorite Musicals next. I’d love to hear your guy’s favorite Halloween movies!! Feel free to message or reblog!!

#sleepy hollow #young frankenstein #scooby doo on zombie island #fright night 2011 #alvin and the chipmunks

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typingtess · 4 years

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NCIS: Los Angeles Season Eleven Rewatch: “Code of Conduct”

The basics: Reports of the murder of an unarmed prisoner by a SEAL has Callen, Sam and Roundtree in Afghanistan to investigate at the request of Col. Sarah MacKenzie.

Written and directed by: Frank Military wrote/co-wrote "Little Angels", "Deliverance", "Lockup", "The Job", "Greed", "Betrayal", "Crimeleon", "Vengeance", "Out of the Past" Part One, "Rude Awakenings" Part Two, season four’s finale "Descent", season five’s premiere "Ascension", "Allegiance", "Spoils of War", "Black Budget", SEAL Hunter", "Rage", "Unspoken", "Unlocked Mind", "Revenge Deferred", "The Seventh Child", "Crazy Train", "Uncaged", "The Silo", "Monster", "Line in the Sand", season ten opener "To Live and Die in Mexico", "The Patton Project", "Better Angels" and "False Flag" (the season 11 finale) and "A Bloody Brilliant Plan".

Frank Military directed "Spoils of War", "Rage", "The Seventh Child", "Uncaged", "A Line in the Sand" and "To Live and Die in Mexico" – all episodes he wrote – and "Answers" which he did not.

Guest stars of note: Catherine Bell opens and closes season 11 as Marine Lieutenant Colonel Sarah "Mac" MacKenzie, Caleb Castille returns as FBI Special Agent Devin Rountree from “Fortune Favors the Brave”, Don Wallace is back from “Alsiyadun” as Senior Chief Frank Wallace. Myk Watford appears as Petty Officer William Moffat though he played Mike Hoffman, Astrid's dad in "The Fifth Man" in season five. Juan Riedinger as Navy Chief Petty Officer Thomas Argento, T.J. Linnard as Special Officer First Class Adam Barr, Kendall Johnson as Special Warfare Operator First Class Malcolm Kendricks, Myk Watford as Navy Petty Officer William Moffat, Ali Saam as Khalil, Arshia Mandavi as Jawan Yusufi, Chris Lamica as Navy Petty Officer Second Class Michael Cole, Marshall Manesh as Older Afghan Man and Sumeet Dang as Yusufzai.

Our heroes: Team up with Mac to end the season.

What important things did we learn about:

Callen: Let the paperwork pile up while he was away. Sam: A federal police officer looking for justice for Samer and his dad. Kensi: Horrified. Deeks: Outraged. Eric: Found Argento’s team. Nell: Not around. Hetty: Ibid.

What not so important things did we learn about:

Callen: Wants to know if he has to endure constant teasing because he has a girlfriend. Sam: Plans to tease Callen constantly because Callen has a girlfriend. Kensi: Not today. Deeks: Not today. Eric: Has not seen or spoken to Nell. Nell: See Hetty. Hetty: Absent.

Who's down with OTP: Not that type of episode.

Who's down with BrOTP: See above.

Any pressing need for a young FBI Agent: Well, there is one and he’s really green to quote Sam from “Knock Down” two episodes before.

Who is running the team this week? The team is running itself but Deeks is more assertive here than usual, especially since this is a 100% military story.

Fashion review: Blue plaid shirt for Callen to start the episode. Sam begins the episode in a red long-sleeve tee. In Afghanistan, Callen is in a blue long-sleeve sweatshirt, Sam has a military desert green long-sleeve tee. Dark, dark red button down top for Kensi. Blue long-sleeve tee for Deeks with white stitching on the shoulders. Eric is wearing a blue and gold stripped tee-shirt under a blue opened jacket.

Music: No.

Any notable cut scene: There was an end of season mini-doc on the DVD. Season 11 was about the team growing as a family according to Frank Military and questioning their futures. Kensi and Deeks want a family, Eric and Nell have out of office opportunities. “How long do we sacrifice our personal life for the greater good.” The family is growing with Fatima, Roundtree and Katherine.

Hetty groomed Nell to replace her, a storyline they had going on for a long time. Nell was a confidant who knew what Hetty was up to before “the boys” often did according to R. Scott Gemmill. Nell liked the job but found the manipulation of others to be a soul killer. Her mother’s illness gave name a different perspective. Does Nell really want to be Hetty and the loneliness that comes with that?

For Callen, he’s Hetty’s second choice for her job. Is Callen ready to control things from the office and not be in the field? His “lone wolf” style has changed working with Callen, Kensi and Deeks but that doesn’t mean he can run the team according to Gemmill.

Military sees issues with Callen and Anna since this is “TV and drama,” things don’t always last. Callen’s two-week vacation was part of his journey. Finding some comfort in his life away from work is big for Callen. Gemmill said the idea was to give Callen a family, a life outside of work – make him whole for once, according to Gemmill.

Sam is growing too. In mouring, Sam is a thoughtful, serious man, according to Frank Military who needs someone who is strong as he is. Gemmill wanted Katherine to be outside of law enforcement to show Sam the Beverly Hills part of LA and not life on the boat. The program was intentionally slow to find a woman for Sam out of respect for Michelle. It didn’t feel right before season 11.

The concern writing Kensi and Deeks as parents is why are they working when one of them should be home with the kid, according to Military. Why would someone throw themselves on a bomb when they have a child? The journey to have a child will be part of season 12. Going and getting pregnant may not be as easy as they hope.

With Barrett Foa doing a play, they were able to build a storyline they couldn’t do in another season. They would never intentionally give a main character six episodes off if they were available to work. The case adds some authenticity to the reason Eric isn’t around. There was some thought about having Eric just show up was discussed but they knew what Foa could do. Eric Beale on the run was a funny idea for the writers. The program never planned a full Eric episode but they got one out of Foa’s absence.

Adding Fatima and Roundtree “breathes new life” to show for the writers and for the actors. They can mix up the partnerships. After 11-seasons, they are shocked they still have most of the original cast. Everyone gets along on and off camera. The reason the cast hasn’t changed because everything works. Adding to what works has advantage. They also can make things easier for the actors by featuring a different character if a certain actor needs time away. The show is physically demanding. The additional characters offer the actors a break.

Military is also positive on the mentoring aspect of Fatima and Roundtree. Fatima’s dual roles in Ops and in the field makes her fun to write.

The writing team didn’t have a plan for the season – no game plan for a change. In past seasons, they had these plans and things have always gone to hell. There have been so many things that impact the filming with pregnancies, births, deaths. The crew has handled whatever has come along.

Quote: Sam: “You know you're going down, right? Off the record, nothing you've done here has anything to do with being a warrior, a SEAL or an American. You've betrayed everything that the military and the teams stand for.” Argento: “You're never going to convict me.” Sam: “We'll talk after the trial.”

Anything else: In Kandahar, Afghanistan, a US military vehicle pulls up outside of a building. While there is damage to the building, the leader of the US team says the missile strike missed the target – taking the roof off but not much else. Concerned about “live ones” inside, the leader splits his team in half – taking some into the building while others stand guard outside.

Several dead bodies are taken from the building, which did not have any intel the military could use. The leader wants to take a “deer photo” over one of the dead bodies. Two try to skip out but the “Chief” orders them to join. A photo is taken.

With his vacation and “other things taking up” his time, Callen is drowning in case reports and expense forms. Sam is entertained when he learns Callen bought a salad spinner. Roundtree arrives, still excited. He thinks he should be meeting Q from James Bond. Callen thinks that particular day is going to be as exciting as eating rice cakes or as Sam says, as painful as a root canal. It is paperwork day. Callen wants Roundtree set up at a work station to see how good he is at paperwork – test his mettle. Roundtree does not think his mettle needs testing.

Eric arrives with two pieces of news – they have a case and he hasn’t been in contact with Nell. As Callen, Sam and Roundtree make their way to the stairs to Ops, Eric has to turn Roundtree away – this is for Callen and Sam only. On the big screen in Ops is Mac. When Mac orders the room secured, Eric and Fatima lead all of the regulars out of Ops with Eric closing the shutters. Callen and Sam are alone with Mac.

Mac is running point on a delicate case. There are two SEALs making claims against Special Warfare Chief Petty Officer Thomas Argento. Those SEALs are in Los Angeles to speak to Sam specifically - his reputation makes him a legend in the teams. The two SEALs – Operators First Class Kendricks and Barr – claim Argento murdered an injured Taliban prisoner. This is not just against the US Military code, it is an international war crime. Mac signs off, forwarding where Kendricks and Barr are staying. Sam is disturbed – he knows the integrity of those who are SEALs. Callen asks if Sam is ready to go after one of his own. Sam doesn’t answer.

Sam tasks Kensi and Deeks with picking up Kendricks and Barr. They are to be brought to the boat shed. Deeks asks what they should know. Sam tells them that Kendricks and Barr are witnesses in a sensitive case. While they leave, Sam wants to learn about Argento.

Back in Ops, Roundtree is reading Argento’s personnel and service file – married with multiple tours in hots spots – “This guy’s a war hero.” Callen notes Argento’s wife is related to a senator from Virginia. Argento has political connections – not common for a SEAL. Most of Argento’s kills are from his work as a sniper even without official sniper training. Working alone, both Callen and Sam point out that there was no spotter or witnesses for Argento’s kills. This is also rare. Sam says Argento is a warrior willing to give his life for his country. “So are his accusers,” Callen notes.

In the boat shed, Callen, Sam and Roundtree join Kensi and Deeks who found Barr but Kendricks left their hotel. Barr will only speak to “Senior Chief Petty Officer Sam Hanna.” Sam goes into interrogation. When Barr calls Sam “Chief” Sam corrects him – “Agent Hanna.” The two men shake hands and take their proper sides of the interrogation table.

Barr says Sam knows “what happens in the teams stays in the teams” so Barr is breaking a code to come forward. What he is doing goes against everything Barr was taught and believes. When Sam mentions accusing a fellow SEAL of murder, Kensi and Deeks in the main room react – “wow.” Back with Barr, Sam tells him that Kendricks backed out – is Barr still going through with the accusation. An accusation that will destroy the character and career of Argento, that could put him in the brig for life.

Barr isn’t going forward without Kendricks – it is career suicide. Even with Kendricks, Barr knows Argento will never be convicted. It was his hope that other members of their team would follow their lead. Now Barr is alone. Except he’s not talking.

Sam goes back to the others in the main room. Callen is leaving the case up to Sam – “This is your call.” The entire case can go away. Roundtree knows it isn’t his place but if the truth matters. Sam stops Roundtree – “the truth is all that matters Kensi and Deeks are sent to find Kendricks. Sam knows Barr is right – testimony from Barr and Kendricks is not enough for Sam or a court-martial. Callen, Sam and Roundtree are going to Afghanistan. “Afghanistan, Afghanistan?” Roundtree asks. There’s only one, Sam tells him, as he works on getting an insider to help them.

After Kensi gets a room key for Kendricks’s hotel room, Deeks finds the door already opened. He then finds the door slammed in his face and a gun pointed at the back of his head. Kensi defuses the situation to the point where Kendricks invited them in. Argento learned what Barr and Kendricks were doing so he started sending threatening texts including a threat that someone was coming to kill Kendricks. Kensi wants to see the texts. Kendricks has more than threats on a text chain. He also accuses Argento of killing civilians. “The prisoner is just the tip of the iceberg.”

In the main section of the boat shed, Kensi and Deeks are speaking to Barr and Kendricks. Both men will be protected. Neither man cares – they want to speak to Sam. Telling them that Sam is on his way to Afghanistan to talk to Argento’s team, Kensi hopes the two SEALs have faith in Sam’s commitment to the truth. Deeks wants Barr and Kendricks to put the same faith in NCIS – start talking.

The two SEALs agree if they can have immunity. Argento has been murdering civilians for a while. They aren’t talking unless they can protect themselves and their team from being prosecuted. Deeks wants to know how long has this been going on. Kendricks thinks that the point – the team needs immunity.

At Kandahar Airfield, Callen, Sam and Roundtree meet up with Chief Frank Wallace, who was in Kabul when Sam contacted him. Callen asks what Wallace knows. Wallace isn’t speaking in public. In a secure room, Wallace tells Callen, Sam and Roundtree that Argento knows NCIS is investigating him. With connections to “DIA, JAG, everywhere,” as well as the other branches of the military, Argento has a loyal group looking out for him.

Command does not know where Argento’s team is right now, just that they are out in the field. Callen is surprised – what did Argento think, that they would leave. Wallace is a maybe on that. He learned Argento is sure his men are loyal to him. “Which makes them complicit,” Callen says. Roundtree thinks the team is afraid – Argento threatened Barr and Kendricks. Roundtree wants Argento pulled from the field and taken into custody. Sam and Wallace are against that – the SEALs are family. With no sworn statement and the reputation of the SEALs having the highest character, they need to look before they leap.

Intelligence contacts in the area gave Wallace the name of Jawan Yusufi, a young man who saw Argento kill the Taliban prisoner. The four men will look for Yusufi, who works as a merchant in the Kandahar markets and then Argento. Wallace warns NCIS that Argento knows the streets in Kandahar – they need to watch their backs. With his connections in Washington, Argento already knows NCIS is there and looking for him – “probably tracked your flight here.” Callen suggests they turn their trackers off. Sam notifies Ops that they are going off the grid.

Kensi and Deeks are back in Ops, talking to Mac. The immunity request worries Mac – Barr and Kendricks could be part of the killing and now are trying to save themselves. Kensi updates Mac on the threatening texts, leading both her and Deeks to believe they are “on the right side of this.” Deeks tells Mac about the accusations of killing civilians. Mac is going to have to go up the chain of command before immunity can be considered.

In the Kandahar market, Wallace spots Yusufi right around the time Yusufi spots them. When Yusufi runs, Roundtree is right behind him with Callen, Sam and Wallace pulling up the rear. Yusufi runs them into a basement – which is trap. Callen, Sam, Roundtree and Wallace are quickly disarmed. Sam reminds Roundtree he was supposed to look before he leaped.

On the big screen in Ops, Mac tells Kensi and Deeks about the pressure coming to squash the investigation from people “way above” the SecNav’s paygrade. Murder charges against a SEAL would be a big headline and that media attention could change the outcome of an election. Mac is keeping NCIS away from the politics. She can’t, however, grant immunity to Barr or Kendricks. Deeks makes a plea – no immunity, no testimony. Mac is on her way to LA – she isn’t giving Barr and Kendricks a “get out of jail free card” without knowing they’re telling the truth. Deeks thinks if they can talk to Barr and Kendricks off the record, check what they’re saying is true, that will provide Mac all she needs for immunity. Fatima pops up on the big screen – she needs to talk to Kensi and Deeks now.

Working on a computer in Hetty’s second floor office, Fatima tells Kensi and Deeks that Callen and Sam are off the grid. They feared Argento tracking them but promised a call-in every three hours. They’ve missed their last two. Fatima knows they are supposed to be in the Kandahar market. Deeks asks Argento’s location, which is unknown. Callen and Sam would be a lot easier for Argento to find than the Taliban insurgents his SEAL team usually hunts. Fatima asks if Argento would go after “our guys?” Deeks has no idea.

Shackled in the basement, Callen, Sam, Roundtree and Wallace are yelled at by an older, local man speaking Farsi. He is pulled into another room by one of the team’s jailers. Wallace translates – the older man is the father of the prisoner Argento killed. Yusufi tells the older man that an American killed his son. As he leaves, the older man tells NCIS that they’re being turned over to the Taliban and before the Taliban kills them, the older man hopes the team is tortured. Roundtree would be happy for paperwork day.

Sam tells the man running the make-shift prison that they are in Kandahar to hear Yusufi’s story. They want the truth. The jailer says an American killed the man’s son, what does it matter what American did it. “All the difference in the world.” Callen asks to speak to Yusufi. “Tell it to the Taliban,” their captor replies. Sam says their deaths mean there will be no justice for the man or his dead son. It gets no reaction.

In the boat shed, Kensi and Deeks go with an off-the record conversation with Barr and Kendricks which they agree to until they hear they will be separated. Kensi tells them it has to be that way – make sure the stories match with no discrepancies.

The team’s captor brings Yusufi to speak to the team. After the missile attack, he went to the building. Samer, the dead man, was injured but told Yusufi he was OK. That’s when they heard the Americans coming.

In interrogation, Barr tells Kensi about the air strike on a building that was a suspected Taliban location. In the second-floor interrogation room, Kendricks tells Deeks right after the strike, Argento led the SEAL Team into the building. It was Kendricks, Barr, Argento, Moffett, Owens, Cole and Peters according to Barr.

Two of the SEALs - Barr and Kendricks - were giving aid to Samer, according to Yusufi.

Telling Kensi they found a man who said he was cleric and a member of the Taliban, Barr said the man needed help. Kendricks tells Deeks the cleric’s name was Samer. Barr was looking to place a tourniquet on the man’s leg while he packed a wound to his left thigh. Kendricks confirms that Barr asked him to sedate Samer while Barr tended to his leg wound. Deeks wants to clarify – Samer was sedated. Kendricks said Samer was given a big dose of morphine, makes it feel like twilight sleep.

After Barr was able to pack the wound, Kensi confirms Samer was going to be alright. Kendricks did the same to Argento. The plan was to put the man in the Humvee when Argento ordered Kendricks out of the room.

Yusufi says “the American leader” knelt down next to Samer.

Barr tells Kensi Argento ordered him to turn off his vest camera. He told everyone to turn off their cameras. When the cameras were turned off, Argento took out his hunting knife.

Samer was stabbed “over and over” by Argento according to Yusufi.

Comparing Argento’s movements to a sewing machine, Barr thinks Samer was stabbed “maybe eight times.” Deeks asks Kendricks for an estimate – how many times did Argento stab Samer. “Six or eight” was Kendricks’s answer. He calls it crazy. Yusufi calls it terrible.

Kendricks asked “What the hell are you doing?” to Argento. His answer to Kendricks, and the answer Barr confirmed was “doing what we do.” Barr is stunned – they saved Samer. Samer could have provided intel. Argento just wanted the kill – another body for his tally.

Yusufi was stunned. The Americans he dealt with in the past were always good to him. When his father’s truck broke down, two American soldiers repaired it. Samer was just lying down and was killed. Samer’s father is weeping as Sam offers his condolences.

Barr talks about the “deer photo” from the teaser. Kendricks says a SEAL that wasn’t with the team that day heard from Argento about the “good kill” he got with his hunting knife. Back to Barr, Argento was selling the story as if it was a fight when Samer was a sedated prisoner.

This wasn’t the first time, Kendricks tells Deeks. Cole, one of the other SEALs, spoke about seeing Argento shoot a random civilian from a sniper’s perch. Barr has the same story of an “old man” Argento killed. Kendricks said the man was running away as other members of the team saw Argento do it. Barr brings up a teen girl walking with some friends – he saw this with his own eyes. Argento just murdered the girl as she walked through a market. “Shot her for no reason. Why would somebody do that? Why do any of it?” Kensi does not have an answer for Barr.

Back in the office, Mac is set up in Hetty’s upstairs office. Kensi and Deeks tell her about the off-the-record conversations with Barr and Kendricks. Everything about their stories matches. The murder of the old man and the young girl had “no strategic or tactical motivation.” Asked by Mac if they believed the men, Deeks answers “every word of it.”

Kensi doesn’t see Argento as a SEAL – his action caused him to lose his trident. Deeks calls Argento a serial killer. Mac understands. Add in the threats, that’s are obstruction. The political pressure on this case is immense. Argento’s wife is the cousin of a US Senator. Kensi doesn’t fear reprisal. Mac doesn’t either but everyone needs to know what bringing charges will mean.

With Barr and Kendricks standing up to Argento – “as should we,” Kensi tells Mac – Deeks wants them on the record with immunity. If this is done wrong, it is Kensi’s career, Mac’s career and likely the future of the OSP.

Callen asks Yusufi if there was a reason to stab Samer. No, he was unconscious. Even the other American were upset and asked why Samer was stabbed. Callen realizes the other SEALs were not a party to the murder. Samer’s father disagrees – they were a party to the murder because they didn’t stop it. Samer’s father thinks all Americans are guilty. By having Sam and company killed, justice will be served for his son. An eye for an eye.

Callen talks about convicting the killer putting him in jail for life. In Farsi, Sam says he is part of the federal police. He is there to find Samer’s killer. Samer’s father spits on the ground by Sam’s feet. The man running the capture is calling a meeting to decide the team’s fate.

Argento and his men pull up outside of the building where Callen, Sam, Roundtree and Wallace are being held. Argento goes alone to the back of the building. He has an informant waiting for some money info about who is in the basement. Once paid, the informant talks about the three black men and one white man in the basement.

Returning to his men, Argento talks about the eight to twelve heavily armed Taliban insurgents in the basement. He claims the insurgents have AKs and rocket-propelled grenades. “Let’s hit ‘em hard, smoke ‘em out.” If the insurgents don’t surrender, Argento will call in for a missile strike. His final recommendation is to shoot first, ask questions later because nobody is getting out alive.

Fatima tells Kensi, Deeks and Mac that the team missed their third check-in, should there be a search for them. Deeks thinks Argent will use to the search to find them. He found the different Special Forces teams patrolling this part of Afghanistan and there’s only one that’s “gone black.” On the big screen is a satellite look at Argento’s men outside the building where the team is being held. Fatima says the building is just two blocks from where Callen, Sam, Roundtree and Wallace were working. Deeks thinks Mac should and Mac finishes his sentence – she’s ordering a Marine quick response team to the location. He wants Argento’s team pulled from the field.

While the men holding the team are speaking, Sam is trying to listen but can’t really hear. Callen asks how Roundtree is enjoying his time with OSP. Roundtree talks about his first day nearly being blown up – that gets a “you’re welcome” from Sam – and now he’s about to be beheaded. “Beats paperwork,” is Callen’s reply. Wallace agrees – their situation “kicks the FBI’s ass.”

The conversation comes to a quick end when Argento and his men open fire on the building. The man in charge yells that they have American prisoners inside but the gunfire’s noise is overwhelming. One of Argento’s men – Cole - finally hears, telling the others to hold fire. All except Argento stop shooting. When he notices he’s the only one shooting, Argento finally stops.

When the man running the team’s capture tells Argento and his team they will kill the “Americans” if the shooting doesn’t stop, another one of Argento’s men – Moffett – waits for instructions. Argento tells his men that there are no Americans in the area. Most of the team agrees but Cole is looking for instructions. The plan is to “blow them to hell.”

Wallace asks his captor to talk to the SEALs so they understand there are Americans inside. Wallace is freed. As soon as he goes to the window, the SEALs open fire again. Wallace ID’s Argento. “That’s not good,” Roundtree adds. Especially since Argento can call in an air strike and take out the building, Sam says. They will become a friendly fire statistic and the investigation is closed.

Sam wants to be freed so he can negotiate their exit. His captors can have a gun on him for the whole time but Sam knows he can stop the attack. He trusts the true character of the SEALs. Yelling “ceasefire,” Sam carries a white flag out of house. Again, everyone stops shooting except for Argento, who finally stops when Cole really calls for the ceasefire on the radio. When Sam identifies himself, Cole is familiar with “Chief Hanna.”

Argento is livid. He tries to set Sam up as someone wearing a bomb or a fake. Argento has one of the Afghan men in his crosshairs. Cole pushes back – Sam is a legend. Argento agrees and is going to do what he needs to “save Sam” by taking out the insurgents. Cole is put in charge of saving Sam as Argento takes his men into the building. Cole fights back – it will be a bloodbath. Argento orders Cole but Cole wants to see what Sam is doing. The rest of the team targets the men with guns on Sam.

Mac tells Kensi and Deeks the SecNav has deployed the quick reaction force. They’re 20-minutes out. That’s too long.

As Sam keeps talking, Argento’s men are beginning to believe him. Cole and now Moffat have questions. As Argento is about to kill Sam, Moffatt puts his foot on Argento’s rifle – “You are not going to kill any Americans.” Argento orders the other men to open fire but Moffatt countermands his order every time. The men behind Sam drop their guns. Moffatt makes it clear, Sam is not in danger, do not fire. Argento promises Moffatt his career is over and “stay out of the streets at night” because he plans to “put him in the ground.” Moffatt’s answer is “bring it.”

As the men who were holding the team leave the basement, Callen, Roundtree and Wallace join them. Wallace assures the SEALs that the men were locals and not Taliban insurgents. They are freed. The man who was holding them is grateful.

Argento is looking for a thank you from Sam. Instead Argento is put in handcuffs and read his Article 31 rights. Argento wants his men to get Sam away from him. The men just watch.

Barr and Kendricks sign a sworn statement that their testimony is true and accurate to Kensi (Barr) and Mac (Kendricks). Callen gets the same from Cole, Sam from Moffatt. Moffatt thinks it is the right thing to do.

As they’re about to leave Kandahar Air Base, Wallace finds Callen and Sam. Five members of Argento’s team signed sworn statements against him. Callen invites Wallace to the bar; the drinks are on them. Roundtree arrives as Wallace leaves. Callen and Sam pull him aside. They weren’t thrilled about how Roundtree ran into the building. Things could have ended badly for all of them that day. Roundtree knows. Callen knows too that they run into a lot of buildings, putting what’s right ahead of what’s safe. Sam thinks Roundtree may fit in with the team. Callen makes the official offer. Roundtree is honored that Callen and Sam think he could measure up to both of them. He can’t, Sam assures Roundtree “get that out of your head.”

Roundtree wants to think about the offer. The team is a family and has an all-in vibe. He doesn’t take family lightly. Neither does the team. They joke about just what part of the family Roundtree would be as Argento walks off a nearby elevator. Sam takes custody of Argento, who Sam doesn’t consider representative of a SEAL, a warrior or an American. Argento betrayed the SEALs. Argento is sure he won’t be convicted. Sam says they can talk after the trial.

What head canon can be formed from here: Always like Sam SEAL stories. Military wrote “Vengeance” in season three where members of SEAL team was accused of murder. Always thought it was just a little off. This one hit on all cylinders. It was a great Sam episode but equally strong for the rest of the team. Kensi and Deeks were really solid working at in LA.

One thing I did appreciate is Roundtree running in the market. When he was running from Callen and Fatima in “Watch Over Me”, it was a bit much to think 50ish Callen could run down a man about half his age. Not saying Callen and Sam can’t chase down the bad guys but let the 20-something do the running.

Episode number: The unexpected season finale was episode 22 of season 11. There were 24 planned episodes but 2020 doesn’t do plans. It is episode 262. If they can complete 18-episodes as planned this season, that gets them to 280.

#NCIS: Los Angeles Rewatch #NCIS: Los Angeles #NCIS: LA #NCIS Los Angeles #ncis la

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1962dude420-blog · 3 years

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Today we remember the passing of Johnny Thunders who Died: April 23, 1991 at the Inn on St Peter in New Orleans, Louisiana.

John Anthony Genzale (July 15, 1952 – April 23, 1991), known professionally as Johnny Thunders, was an American guitarist, singer and songwriter. He came to prominence in the early 1970s as a member of the New York Dolls. He later played with the Heartbreakers and as a solo artist.

Thunders was born John Anthony Genzale in Queens, New York, the second child to Josephine Genzale (née Nicoletti, 1923–1999), who was of Italian descent, and Emil Genzale (1923–1982), who was of Italian, Russian-Jewish, and German-Jewish ancestry. He had an older sister, Mariann (1946–2009). He first lived in East Elmhurst and then Jackson Heights.

His first musical performance was in the winter of 1967 with The Reign. Shortly thereafter, he played with Johnny and the Jaywalkers, under the name Johnny Volume, at Quintano's School for Young Professionals, around the corner from Carnegie Hall, on 56th Street near 7th Avenue.

In 1968, he began going to the Fillmore East and Bethesda Fountain in Central Park on weekends. His older sister, Mariann, started styling his hair like Keith Richards. In late 1969, he got a job as a sales clerk at D'Naz leather shop, on Bleecker Street in the West Village, and started trying to put a band together. He and his girlfriend, Janis Cafasso, went to see The Rolling Stones at Madison Square Garden in November 1969, and they appear in the Maysles' film, Gimme Shelter.

Dolls bass guitarist Arthur "Killer" Kane later wrote about Thunders' guitar sound, as he described arriving outside the rehearsal studio where they were meeting to jam together for the first time: "I heard someone playing a guitar riff that I myself didn't know how to play. It was raunchy, nasty, rough, raw, and untamed. I thought it was truly inspired...", adding "His sound was rich and fat and beautiful, like a voice."

The New York Dolls were signed to Mercury Records, with the help of A & R man Paul Nelson. Thunders recorded two albums with the band, New York Dolls and Too Much Too Soon. They were managed by Marty Thau, and booked by Leber & Krebs. Subsequently, they worked with Malcolm McLaren for several months, later becoming a prototype for the Sex Pistols.

In 1975 Thunders and Nolan left the band, Thunders later blaming McLaren for the band's demise. Johansen and Sylvain continued playing, along with Peter Jordon, Tony Machine (an ex-assistant agent at Leber & Krebs) and Chris Robison, as the New York Dolls until late 1978.

Thunders formed The Heartbreakers with former New York Dolls drummer Jerry Nolan and former Television bassist Richard Hell. Walter Lure, former guitarist for the New York City punk band The Demons joined them soon after. After conflict arose between Thunders and Hell, Hell left to form Richard Hell and the Voidoids and was replaced by Billy Rath. With Thunders leading the band, the Heartbreakers toured America before going to Britain to join the Sex Pistols, The Clash and The Damned on the 'Anarchy Tour'. The group stayed in the UK throughout 1977, where their popularity was significantly greater than in the U.S., particularly among punk bands. While in Britain they were signed to Track Records and released their only official studio album, L.A.M.F., an abbreviation for "Like A Mother Fucker". L.A.M.F. was received positively by critics and fans alike, but was criticised for its poor production. Displeased with the production, the band members were soon competing with one other, mixing and remixing the record, culminating in drummer Jerry Nolan quitting in November 1977. Shortly thereafter, the Heartbreakers officially disbanded.

Thunders stayed in London and recorded the first of a number of solo albums, beginning with So Alone in 1978. The notoriously drug-fuelled recording sessions featured a core band of Thunders, bassist Phil Lynott, drummer Paul Cook and guitarist Steve Jones, with guest appearances from Chrissie Hynde, Steve Marriott, Walter Lure, Billy Rath and Peter Perrett. The CD version of the album contains four bonus tracks, including the single "Dead or Alive" and a cover of the early Marc Bolan song "The Wizard". Soon afterwards, Thunders moved back to the US, joining former Heartbreakers Walter Lure, Billy Rath and sometimes Jerry Nolan for gigs at Max's Kansas City. Around this time Thunders played a small number of gigs at London's Speakeasy with a line up including Cook and Jones, Henri Paul on bass and Judy Nylon and Patti Palladin (Snatch) as back up vocalists.

In late 1979, Thunders moved to Detroit with his wife Julie and began performing in a band called Gang War. Other members included John Morgan, Ron Cooke, Philippe Marcade and former MC5 guitarist Wayne Kramer. They recorded several demos and performed live several times before disbanding. Zodiac Records released an EP of their demos in 1987. In 1990 they also released an album titled Gang War, which was credited to Thunders and Kramer.

During the early 1980s, Thunders re-formed The Heartbreakers for various tours; the group recorded their final album, Live at the Lyceum, in 1984. The concert was also filmed and released as a video and later a DVD titled Dead Or Alive.

In the 1980s, Thunders lived in Paris and Stockholm with his wife and daughter. In 1985 he released Que Sera Sera, a collection of new songs with his then band The Black Cats, and "Crawfish", a duet with former Snatch vocalist Patti Palladin. Three years later he again teamed up with Palladin to release Copy Cats, a covers album. The album, produced by Palladin, featured a wide assortment of musicians to recreate the 1950s and 1960s sound of the originals, including Alex Balanescu on violin, Bob Andrews on piano, The Only Ones John Perry and others on guitar, and a horn section.

From August 1988 until his death in April 1991, Thunders performed in The Oddballs, with Jamie Heath (saxophone), Alison Gordy (vocals), Chris Musto (drums), Stevie Klasson (guitar) and Jill Wisoff (bass). From April–May 1990, Johnny performed an acoustic tour of the UK and Ireland joining up occasionally with John, Sam & Peter of The Golden Horde, whom he had met and played with previously in 1984 at the TV Club, and were concurrently on tour (of the UK & Ireland) at that time also, for full-band electric performances and TV appearances. On May 8, 1990, recording sessions in London for a joint EP-single cover version with The Golden Horde of "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies, and original material, had to be cancelled when Johnny experienced "health problems" following his performances in Wakefield, UK while on tour.

His final recording was a version of "Born To Lose", with German punk rock band Die Toten Hosen, recorded 36 hours before his death in New Orleans.

Rumors surround Thunders' death at the St. Peter House in New Orleans, Louisiana on April 23, 1991. Thunders apparently died of drug-related causes, but it has been speculated that it was the result of foul play. According to his biography Lobotomy: Surviving The Ramones, Dee Dee Ramone took a call in New York City the next day from Stevie Klasson, Johnny's rhythm guitar player. Ramone said, "They told me that Johnny had gotten mixed up with some bastards... who ripped him off for his methadone supply. They had given him LSD and then murdered him. He had gotten a pretty large supply of methadone in England, so he could travel and stay away from those creeps – the drug dealers, Thunders imitators, and losers like that."

An article in the Orlando Sentinel states that he died of an overdose of cocaine and methadone, according to the coroner's office in New Orleans. Chief investigator John Gagliano said "tests completed last week found substantial amounts of both drugs."

While other sources state: An autopsy was conducted by the New Orleans coroner, but served only to compound the mysteries. According to Thunders' biographer Nina Antonia as posted on the Jungle Records web site, the level of drugs found in his system was not fatal. According to the book Rock Bottom: Dark Moments in Music Babylon by Pamela Des Barres, who interviewed Thunders' sister, Mariann Bracken, the autopsy confirmed evidence of advanced leukemia, which would explain the decline in Thunders' appearance in the final year of his life. This also sheds light on the interview in Lech Kowalski's documentary Born To Lose: The Last Rock and Roll Movie, where Thunders' brother-in-law says, "Only Johnny knew how sick he really was."

In a 1994 Melody Maker interview, Thunders' manager Mick Webster described the family's efforts to get New Orleans police to investigate the matter further: "We keep asking the New Orleans police to re-investigate, but they haven't been particularly friendly. They seemed to think that this was just another junkie who had wandered into town and died. They simply weren't interested."

Thunders was survived by his wife Julie Jourden and four children: sons John, Vito, and Dino, and daughter Jamie Genzale by Susanne Blomqvist.

#april 23 #1991 #johnny thunders #new york dolls #heartbreakers #r.i.p.

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