Poldark: Episode 7

Previously: a lot of shit happened and that’s why these recaps clock in at 4K words and this episode is 2 hours so buckle up.

I love the title sequence SO MUCH.

Morning. Blamey rides on horseback along the cliffs, hides a sealed letter in a rock wall, and later, D pulls it out.  At Trenwith, Verity walks out in the gardens with Geoffrey Charles, and meets up with D, who hands her the letter, and one of the maids sees. SUBTERFUGE IN THE SERVICE OF TEAM VERITY I LOVE IT. (This trio needs to get side jobs as spies.)

George meets with Trevaunance who’s got the smelting works of the Carnmore Copper Company on his land, and not at all subtly implies that going against the Warleggans when one has outstanding loans with the Warleggans is a real bad idea. In the Red Lion Tavern, Ross has pretty much set up an office, and Francis finds him. “Still building your empire?” Carnmore has all the copper this round, but next auction the other companies will know what’s up, and the prices will rise- which is good for the mines, at least. Ross rolls up the Carnmore Copper Company Charter, hiding the names of the shareholders from Francis, because Ross, while it is a good thing he’s pretty, is not actually stupid. Breaking the Warleggans’ stranglehold on Cornwall will be better for everyone. “I wish I had your support, Francis. I know I have your discretion.” “Of course.” Mmhmmm.

Keren plunks down a plate of food in front of Mark, and he eyes it dubiously. She tells him that she’s been too busy to bake, since she’s been helping Dr. Enys with his work! Mark grumpily points out that Enys ain’t her husband, which is true, but not the point, and she doesn’t want him giving her lip, since she’s proud to help him. Mark frets.

At the mine, Enys is seeing to patients, prescribing perfectly period remedies that probably will help (as much as they can) for lung complaints. Behind him, Jud is brings up a barrel of booze that he had smuggled away in Ross’ other defunct mine. Jud swears that he won’t tap it before Ross gets him. “Honest as the day is short!” Ross walks up to Enys who asks what’s all this then: “Supplies of fine goods, direct from France.” “Without troubling the excise men?” (I WAS WONDERING WHEN WE WERE GOING TO GET TO SMUGGLING.) Ross tells Enys that he will break even this month, what with the fair auction.

Enys says that he must get back to his patients, and Mark walks by, scowling and glowering at Enys. “Dwight, have a care,” Ross warns him, and Enys doesn’t even pretend he doesn’t know what that’s about. Mark tells Ross that Keren has him up all night mending the roof, (and he means mending the roof, not like “mending the roof”).

Zacky (Jinny’s father) brings word that Trevaunance has told them that they need to move the smelting works to somewhere else, which probably isn’t as easy as just taking things apart Ikea style, and Ross is annoyed but unsurprised.

At Trenwith, Verity watches Francis, Elizabeth, and Geoffy-Chuck leave, takes a tremulous breath, nearly in tears, but resolute. After changing for riding, Verity then tucks a letter into Aunt Agatha’s shawl (Aggie is asleep), and leaves, taking a small box with her. RUN VERITY RUN.

Jud is drunkenly singing, and staggers into the kitchen, and everyone (D, Prudie, and Julia) looks at him in amusement, disinterest, and disgust, respectively. Prudie tells him that Ross will beat the shit out of him for drinking all the rum, and Jud’s like “bah, he gives himself airs and he’s been with half the maids from here to Truro.” Then Jud says that Jinny’s baby is actually Ross’ and the whole reason Ross went to see Jim was to “put ‘im in the ground” and Ds like “he’s super drunk and just ignore him” because she has some experience with drunken assholes who’ll say shit just to get a rise out of you. Ross bursts in, grabs Jud by the throat and tells Jud to leave. “Go where?” “I neither know nor care.” Jud needs to be gone by daybreak, or Ross will horsewhip him from here to Truro (that’s about ten miles).

Nampara: D tries to plead Jud’s case (it was the drink talking!), but Ross isn’t having it. Jud has disrespected D once too often, so that was it. Jud and Prudie, loaded down with all their earthly possessions (it’s not much) walk down the road, with Prudie pissed because it was the best place she’d ever known and Jud’s doing his, “Tain’t fit, tain’t fair, tain’t right-“ song again, but Prudie is now over that shit.

Trenwith: Francis and Elizabeth go to see if Agatha knows where Verity is. She thinks Verity is out. She did not say where, though. She left something, though. “What?” “Sealed it was, as if I care to know her secrets.” Agatha hands Francis the letter, which is an apology that this is the way they should part. Francis crumples and throws the letter, and Elizabeth reads it.

In Falmouth, Blamey and Verity stand outside his house, where Verity will spend the night, and Blamey will sleep on board the ship. And in the morning, they’ll be married! YES YES YES. THIS IS 1000000% A WIN FOR TEAM VERITY.

Francis is pissed that Verity snuck away to marry that “wife murdering drunkard” and that she must have had help. He has assembled the staff and demands to know if there’s been anyone who’s called on Verity, who might have snuck in a message? Close-up on the maid that saw D and Verity meet. Uh oh. “I KNOW THIS WAS ROSS’ DOING BECAUSE HE’S HELPED THEM BEFORE.” Elizabeth tries to be the voice of reason, but Francis is beyond soothing. Verity has no post (“I’ve seen to that” — and you wonder why she peaced out? Ass.) and of COURSE Elizabeth is Ross’ side. “I’m on no one’s side. I just think that one shouldn’t condemn someone without reason.” “DAMN ROSS DAMN THIS FAMILY DAMN THE ENTIRE PITITFUL EXCUSE FOR AN EXISTENCE”

George happened to walk in at the end of that- Elizabeth won’t tell him what set this off, but George wants to offer his assistance. Elizabeth and Francis sit with George in front of a fireplace, and have explained the whole sorry business. What pisses Francis off the most is the betrayal (lies) of someone he trusted. “Your sister?” “My cousin.” “You blame Ross.” “Entirely.”

But on to the real reason George called- it seems that it’s probable that Francis was the victim of Matthew’s (the card shark) cheating at cards. So George wants to cancel a lot of Francis’ debt and also pay 1200 pounds. Elizabeth is like, “we cannot accept such charity” and Francis is clearly thinking “OH YES WE CAN” while George says it’s not charity; it’s making amends for Matthew being a scumbag. This is, for Elizabeth and Francis, a huge weight off their shoulders. George wants to take Francis out, to celebrate, and he tells Elizabeth, “You see, I did mend your smile after all” which is creepy and weird and dude her husband is RIGHT THERE. Francis is still agog at his good fortune.

At Enys’ cottage, Keren is naming the various herbs and medicines he has, asking what they’re for. “I have a thirst for learning.” Enys tells her that some are nature’s remedies, and some are his, but they’re all infinitely more affordable (and more effective) than anything Dr. Choate prescribes. Keren is doing this super effective “come hither” thing in the doorway and he’s working really hard and not noticing. She tells him that he’s made her whole again, and he’s like okay, this needs to stop. She tells him to kiss her, and he really wants to, but tells her again to go, because everyone knows it won’t be just the once. She kisses him, and tells him that she won’t leave, not until he tells her to stop. He kisses her back, and well, you can guess what happens next.

Mark is in the mine, mining.

Nampara, kitchen. Ross is stressed out- not just because of Jud, but also because of Carnmore. They need to find another place for the smelting works, which they will; the whole of Cornwall isn’t beholden to George Warleggan yet. (“Nor will it, if I can help it”). The important thing is to keep George from finding out the names of the men involved with Carnmore- only two of them don’t bank with the Warleggans. D grabs the charter with the intention of hiding it (I guess “hide the charter” is one way to phrase it) but before they can get on with hiding the charter, the mine bell rings- there was a rock fall and Mark has a cut on his head. Henshawe suggests Dr. Enys, but Mark would rather bleed to death, thank you.

George offers that Verity will figure out her mistake and come crying home, and Francis is like, well, Ross can take her in, whatever, I don’t care. “I don’t even know why he would be so mad at me that he would betray me like this.” “You did marry the girl he loved,” points out George and Francis is like “oh that, well, I mean, I did do that.” But he should be over it by now! He’s married himself! “More happily, in fact, than…” He doesn’t think Ross could still be mad about that.

Nightfall, and Mark is wandering around his house, yelling for Keren. She and Enys are still lying before Enys’ fire, and Enys looks so full of guilt.

George sympathizes- “I, too, find Ross unfathomable. In some ways, you and I are in the same boat.”

Keren tiptoes home. Mark sees her from where he’s hiding in the shadows, and sighs in existential pain.

George simply does not understand Ross! He didn’t want Wheal Leisure to go with Warleggans, and this whole Carnmore thing is CLEARLY a personal strike against George! CLEARLY. Francis tries- it’s not against you, it’s about getting fairer prices for the mines. George: “It demonstrates an enmity towards me that I don’t feel I deserve.” George pauses. “Any more than you deserve his betrayal of your family.”

Keren sneaks into her house, and Mark asks her where she’s been, and she’s like “you’re early, oh you’re hurt! I had a pain, I thought a walk would ease it,” “You’ve been with Enys.” “I’ve not!” Well, maybe she was, she needed something for the pain, he is a doctor, isn’t he? “How long?” “What?” “How long were you there?” “About an hour.” “I waited three.” Whoops. Keren goes for the scattershot approach- it was nothing, it was a kiss. Just once. He pestered me, it’s your fault and you left me alone and you didn’t love me enough! “I loved ‘ee more than life!” She leaps at him, pounding him with her fists and shrieking, “You don’t know what love is!” and Mark holds her to him and until there’s a sickening crunch and she stops struggling. Mark realizes that she’s stopped moving, and tries to get her to wake up, but she’s dead.

Francis: “DAMN ROSS. DAMN HIS SCHEMING. … If he cares so little for my interest, why should I care for his.” George: “You say that Carnmore is well supported. Surely no man of sense would invest in such scheme?” It works, and Francis rattles off the names. Somehow, George does not twirl his non-existent moustache.

In the morning, Mark leaves his house, face wrecked. Jud and Prudie are sitting on a hill, and Jud is still making excuses- he said nothing worse than usual, it’s Ross that’s changed since he wed “her” and since the blathering child did come. They see Mark.

At Mark’s house, Enys knocks on the door, asking to talk to Mark. “I regret this intrusion, but I believe I’ve wronged you. I have no excuse, but I wish to make amends.” He knocks on the door again, and the door opens, and he sees Keren lying on the floor.

At Nampara, Zacky and another man (Mark’s brother Paul) are explaining what happened, that it was maybe an accident, but no one knows where Mark is. Enys needs to watch his back. Ross: we all know Marks’ strength, and he could have accidently done her harm, but if you know where he is… “I’ve known Mark since I was a boy. I’ve no wish to see him hunted down and hung from a gibbet.” Paul says that Mark won’t get any justice: “Just ask Jim Carter.” Ouch. Accurate, but ouch.

Enys tells Ross that she died from a broken neck, but there’ no way to tell if it was deliberate. Ross tells Enys to leave. There’s a warrant out for Mark’s arrest and everyone is bound by law to help in the capture (but no one will). He’ll be found and brought in, and then it will be safe for Enys to return. Enys does not like this idea- running and hiding “…while the man I wronged is hunted down like an animal?” He’d rather meet Mark face to face. Enys won’t leave these people- there’s so much stacked against them, and he won’t take medical care away from them, too. Ross: “Your blood is on your own hands.” “Keren’s blood is there already.”

Ross rides home and meets D, who asks if it’s true about Keren. It turns out that Sir Hugh has brought in soldiers- they were already in the area looking for smugglers, and Hugh commandeered them to hunt down Mark, and when they find him- and they will- he’ll hang.

Mark: “And well deserve it.” He and Paul have come to Ross for help.

Mark is ready to turn himself in, but even Ross doesn’t think that’s a good idea. He wants Mark to take Ross’ boat from Nampara cove that night and go for Ireland or Brittany. They’ll need to get the oars (which are in the house) and some supplies down there, but it can be done. D: “ti’sn’t lawful.” Ross: No. D: “Some might say it’s a kind of justice.” Ross stresses the need to keep Enys and Mark apart. They hear Garrick (GARRICK WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN) barking, and Ross goes to the window. “Go upstairs and change.” D looks out the window to see soldiers coming to the house. “And prepare to be the lady.” She heads up right away to put on her good red dress as Ross greets them.

The Captain is a friend of Ross’ from the Revolutionary War. He’s here to see if Ross knows anything about Mark’s whereabouts, since they were aquainted. Ross says he doesn’t know anything, and he doesn’t think Mark would linger. The captain asks about boats in the area Mark might make use of. There are some, “I have one myself, but a single man couldn’t handle it. Wanna stay for supper?” D’s made kidney pudding! No, not this time, but if you could point me to the coves, I can hunt for murderers and smugglers! Ross offers some brandy. “I trust you’ll be able to tell by the flavor if the duties have been paid.” Everyone is highly amused by this.

D and Ross watch the soldiers leave, and D mutters out of the side of her mouth. “You were so good, no one would guess you knew a thing.” “Don’t underestimate him. He’s smarter than he looks.” Inside, Ross says that he must get the oars down to the cove, but there’s a note from Trenwith. “As you may know, Verity left us yesterday for Captian Blamey. They are to be married today.” D is pleased. “So she’s done it at last.” Ross is less pleased: “I rather feared she might. Why ‘as you may know’?” D: Perhaps the news is already about? Ross decides to hit Trenwith before the cove. “Will you be well enough here with Garrick to guard you?”

Verity and Blamey are eating together, and Verity is marveling that this is their first meal together- they’ve only met 2 dozen times, and here they are. “Tonight we close the book on our old lives, tomorrow we open a new one.” “And write it together.” Blamey tells her that if she is ever unhappy, he swears it will not be his doing. She smiles at him as he kisses her hand. MY HEART.

At Nampara, Garrick is drowsing by the fire while D watches from the window. Ross drops off the oars and sees the soldiers at the top of the bluffs. Garrick barks, and D stares at the door, holding her kitchen knife, and Enys bursts in. He says that he is sick of his own company, and wants to hang out with Ross, but Ross isn’t home.

No, Ross is at Trenwith, where Elizabeth is home but Francis is not- Francis is REALLY MAD and half-tempted, Elizabeth says, to go after Verity and Ross is like Blamey will eat him and spit out the bones, so he really should not do that. “Or Verity, for I think she’s not the bolder of the two.” Ross calls Verity reckless and Elizabeth is like, “Nah, she’s brave.”

Francis walks in, and asks if Ross is happy, since it was OBVIOUSLY him who helped Verity peace out. Ross is shocked to think that Francis thinks that.

Nampara: There’s another knock on the door, and Garrick growls- it’s Mark and Paul, who are looking for shelter from the soldiers- they had no where else to go. D’s face is pure “Well, fuck me.”

Francis is yelling about how Ross helped Verity and Blamey before and he was defeated then, (Ross: you nearly got killed, so I’m not real thrilled with how that turned out) and Elizabeth thinks Francis is being ridiculous. “I think you just be drunk, Francis.” Elizabeth asks Ross to leave.

Nampara: D puts Mark and Paul in the parlor to wait for Ross to get back from the cove. Enys comes out of the kitchen to see who’s there, and Mark sees him. AWKWARDSAUCE.

Trenwith: Ross is putting on his coat, and Francis drops the last straw- Ross was using D to pass letters (OBVIOUSLY) and Francis calls D an “impudent brat.” Ross is mostly mad that Francis won’t believe him.

Nampara: D works to separate Enys and Mark- Mark thinks it’s a trap, and Enys tells Mark he should have come for him, not broken a girl’s neck.

Trenwith: (This cutting back and forth is great TV but hell to recap). Ross and Francis are yelling at each other and Elizabeth is finally like “YOU ARE FUCKING FAMILY KNOCK THIS SHIT OFF”

Nampara: “You would fight and kill each other in our house?” D points out that Enys can’t betray Mark without betraying Ross and D, so we all have to trust each other. Mark doesn’t want to, but Enys swears he won’t betray anyone- what he did is on his conscience, while what Mark did is on his.

Trenwith: Ross leaves, and Elizabeth tells Francis to call him back. “He is your COUSIN.” “I HAVE NO COUSIN. I HAVE NO SISTER. I have a wife, and son, and an estate in considerably less debt than it was yesterday. So I’m content.” Lies.

Nampara: D sits on the stairs in between the kitchen and the parlor, holding a fire poker. Ross comes in, and she flings herself in his arms. “What is god’s name?” He sends Enys home to go to sleep. “And tomorrow…” “Tomorrow I will tend to my patients.”

Ross, Mark, and Paul head down to the cove, but before they can send Mark off to Ireland or Brittany, he’s got some important plot seeds to plant: He hid in Ross’ other defunct mine, Wheal Grace for a while. (Paul, speaking for those of us who remember that they’re being hunted: SHHHHHHH) Mark found a lot of copper on the east face- “There’s money in that mine”

“I never meant to hurt her, Ross…I must pay for what I’ve done.” Mark moves forward to turn himself in, and Ross and Paul tackle him. They sneak into the cave with the boat, and there is a random soldier there. The soldier does not yell, but fumbles with his gun, and is hit in the head by Paul as he pulls the trigger. The gunshot attracts the soldiers, and they’re running towards Ross, and Mark gets off in the boat. Ross and Paul hide in the rocks and get away

At Nampara, Ross is home, and has D pull off his boots (Note they don’t have a light on). D hides Ross’ wet clothes, and there’s a knock on the door. Ross says to wait until they knock again before they “wake up” and both of them race to get undressed enough to appear to have been asleep. There’s a second knock, and Ross flings open the window and barks, “This is a fine time to call!”

The captain from before is downstairs and tells him that Mark has escaped. In Ross’ boat. “I see.” The captain notes that Ross isn’t distressed. “I’ve become philosophical in my old age.” He’s not happy to lose a good boat, but sighing won’t bring it back. The captain offers some device: “Have a care for the law. Tis a cranky and twisty old thing. You may flout it half a dozen times, but let it once come to grips with ye and you’ll find it harder to be loose from than a great black squid.” Ross assures him that he understands the message. The Captain would be delighted to call upon Ross and his charming wife when he is next in the county.

In the morning, Verity and Blamey are married, much to general applause and delight.

D washes Ross’ wounded hand. Ross frets that between Jim and Mark, his “band of brothers is shrinking.” D tries to be philosophical- “It was a good night, in the end.” Ross reminds her that he went to Trenwith, and things are not all well there. “Suffice it to say Francis and I have broken, possibly for good.” D is guilt-ridden.

There’s a knock at the door- there’s a letter for Ross, and it’s a summons for all partners in the Cranmore Copper Company.

D walks to Trenwith, and Francis is eating breakfast. Elizabeth is not down yet, but it was Francis D wanted to see.

Ross walks into the partners meeting- everyone is super tense. D leaves Trenwith, very upset and with her hand over her belly like she’s trying to contain her anxiety.

At Nampara, both of them are home, and D asks if the meeting went well. “In a word….no. I’d rather hear your news.” “I’d rather you did not.” D tells Ross she went to see Francis-

Flashback: Francis: “Did Ross send you?” D tells Francis that Ross definitely did not have any hand in Verity’s elopement. “If I did not believe him, why would I believe you?” D tells him that she knows who did.

Ross: “You’ve been passing letters between them these last three months.” D tells him that there’s more- she’s the one who nudged Blamey into seeing if Verity was still into him- she was the one who brought them together again. Ross: “What have you done?” D says that all she did was bring together two people who loved each other. Ross: “No, that is not all you did.”

Flashback to Ross’ meeting: One of the partners announces that he had a letter from the Warleggans’ bank telling him that they would no longer extend credit to him, and he needed to repay his loans. So did another partner. The Warleggans would not reconsider, and suggested that the reason for such behavior is because of their ties with Carnmore. Not only that, the first partner expects that he will be declared bankrupt in the near future, and will have to go to debtor’s prison. So that sucks.

Nampara: “For months you’ve lied to me, gone behind my back.” Ross is ripshit that D has no regard for truth and consequences. “All I’ve done is make two people happy.” Well, apparently it’s more than that.

Back at the partner’s meeting: No one has any regrets at the attempt, but the cost was dear. “It has cost us everything.” Someone betrayed them- “Someone close to us.”

Nampara: “How did it end with Francis?”

Trenwith flashback: D says she did what did for love of Verity. Francis throws her out and tells her that neither she nor Ross will be welcome in the house again. “If he will marry such an ignorant trollop as you, then he must take the consequences.” D leaves.

Nampara: Ross tells D that everything that has happened- good men reduced to poverty and the destruction of Carnmore and the victory of the Warleggans- all of that is her fault. (Shot of George and Trump Warleggan clinking glasses, the Carnmore partners leaving their meeting in despair) and D, poor D, saying, “I’ve ruined everything!” She looks at Ross. “Have I ruined this, too? Have I lost your trust? Is it forever?” Ross says nothing. “It is. I can see it in your eyes. Can I win it back?” “I don’t know.” He tells her that she’s married in to a peculiar family (I think he means fucked up, but what do I know) “We Poldarks are hasty, sharp tempered, strong in our likes and dislikes. Perhaps yours was the more reasonable view- if two people love each other they should get married, and damn to the consequences.” D: “I only meant to help.”

She asks if he can forgive her, and he says he will try. Francis won’t, though, and Ross won’t forgive Francis. D: I have caused this great rift. She will not be happy until she’s fixed it. Ross: “I’m afraid you will be unhappy for a very long time.” (My roommate points out to D that throat punching is still and always will be an option.)

D is kneading dough and singing- taking a basket to the mine. Ross distributes the bread in it to ragged children. On her way home, D stops by Jud and Prudie, who are living in an old barn on their land. Jud grumbles and Prudie tells him to shut up, because Ross is still looking after them by turning a blind eye to that fact. Which, D says, he does know about, of course.

At the Red Lion, George eyes Trauvaunance, who still has the smelting works on his lands. He and Trump Warleggan have one of those conversations that is on paper between the two of them, but is really at Travaunance- he’s got this smelting works on his land, but it’s difficult since it has no copper- Carnmore hasn’t gotten copper in the past four auctions, and if they get none in the next auction, that will be it for them. “Were I Sir Jon Trevaunance, I would regret having the smelting works on my land with nothing to produce.” Sir John looks stressed.

At Nampara, D and Jinny are making rolls, and Ross walks in, D looks hopeful/happy, and tells Jinny to go. Ross asks Jinny about her daughter, and Jinny drops a plot seed by saying that the baby is better, and Enys said it wasn’t the putrid sore throat after all. Thank god. There’s three dead of it this week in Sawle. D sends Jinny on her way with some food, and Jinny thanks her for taking her back on- even though they can’t really afford it.

“Jinny, if we did what we could afford, we’d never get out of bed.” WORD.

Julia is playing by the fire, and she has a new tooth coming in. “Soon she’ll be able to bite like Garrick.” There’s also a letter. From Verity. (Ross glowers.)

At Trenwith, Agatha asks when Verity will be home. “This is not Verity’s home.” Francis intones. He’s also got a wicked sore throat, and he asks Elizabeth to ask the housekeeper for a posset. But the housekeeper is ill, too. Agatha is fighting fit with the appetite of a girl of 20. “If Verity would here, she’d prescribe honey and licorice.” As opposed to Dr. Choake’s prescriptions of leeches. “I’ve no faith in Dr. Choake” says Elizabeth, sensibly. She doesn’t look that well, either, and Geoffy-Chuck’s cheeks are rather pink. “Nor I,” says Francis. And even less in Verity.”

Ross is reading the letter- Verity seems content, so D’s meddling worked out. “And yours?” D asks. The remaining partners in Carnmore have scraped together enough money to bid high on the last auction, so maybe, MAYBE they’ll get some ore to work with, but Ross is doubtful. D wants to help, and says they could mortgage Nampara. It’s already mortgaged, though. She tells him to sell her brooch and her best gown, but Ross really doesn’t want to steal the gown off her back. She really wants to make amends though (THOUGH SHE HAS NOTHING TO MAKE AMENDS FOR BUT WE WILL GET TO THAT).

Next morning, Ross is riding off, and will be gone the night. D is projecting confidence that they’ll win the auctions and Carnmore will be safe. As he rids along the cliffs, he runs into Enys, out on his rounds. Enys is basically working himself to the bones to make amends for his role in Keren’s death, not eating, losing weight. He asks if Ross has word of Nark, and Mark is in France, safe and well, with no plans to return (it’s 1790, so shit is super stirring in France right now, so…we’ll see). Enys will still be working his ass off, though, since the putrid sore throat is taking out whole families, and Enys is trying to contain it. He mentions that Dr. Choake has been summoned to Trenwith and that they all have it. Ross is alarmed. Enys can’t go, since they are Choake’s patients, and he wasn’t called there. “Sometimes the weak survive and the strong go under.”

At the gates of Trenwith, he runs into Choake, who is on his way out. Ross asks if it’s the putrid sore throat, and Choake’s like No! Not at ALL. “We have isolated the symptoms, we have applied remedies, and they are all on the mend.” I have total confidence in this quack. Ross is equally dubious, and Choake’s like look, it’s just a question of competent treatment. Ross accepts this because he is short on time, and rides off. Elizabeth sees him, holding poor Geoffy-Chuck, and her face falls. Behind her, Francis is coughing and looks a sorry sight.

In Truro, Ross slo-mo’s into the auction, with much less confidence than the last time we saw him do this. The remaining Cranmore partners enter with him. At the auction, Cranmore again gets nothing. Ross is a lot less cool, and George is smirking.

In Nampara’s kitchen, D is working on getting Julia to eat bread, when Jinny comes in with the news from Trenwith. Everyone there is sick, even the servants (except Aunt Agatha, who will never deign to get ill, but she still is 93). Dr. Choake is in Truro and won’t be back until morning.

At the end of the auction, Ross is left alone. D makes a decision- she’s going to go to Trenwith, and asks Jinny to make sure that Julia gets her milk boiled and is put to bed if she’s not back by nightfall.

The three remaining Cranmore partners gather in the auction room alone. “Are we all that remain?” “The Warleggans have been most efficient.” The meeting is called to order, and since they got no copper, and that seems unlikely to change- “We bow to the inevitable?” Ross sighs. “It is with extreme regret that I declare the Carnmore Copper Company dissolved.”

As Ross leaves the Red Lion, George is waiting to pounce. He mentions that Margaret (Truro’s business prostitute) a) has missed Ross at their little gaming parties and b) is on her third Lord. Margaret does seem to suck the life out of her lovers, and that she once had her sights set on marrying Ross. “Not you?” “No, my sights are set somewhat higher.” Ugh, George. George asks after D and that Ross should bring her out more often. Ross says that they have little time for socializing. Ah yes, George slimes. The copper company keeps you busy. “Wheal Leisure!” snaps Ross. George muses that Leisure still has some prospects for an investor- since there will be some shares coming on the market. Ross is like whaaaaaaat the fuck are you talking about? George means Ross’ shares, of course. “But perhaps I was misinformed.”

D knocks on the door at Trenwith. No one answers, but the door drifts open. When she walks in, there’s wilting flowers and dust everywhere. “Verity? Is that you?” Agatha asks from the gallery. D says that she’s here to see how everyone is doing. Well, they’re sick, of course. “And who’s to care for them, with Verity gone? She’d no business to go. Her duty’s here. ‘Twas a selfish, cruel thing she did, to leave us like that.” Verity literally had no one on her side.

George is still following Ross, saying he’d offer a good price and Ross is like asswipe, go find one of the other partners and ask them if you want them so bad. George: what is it that offends you, Ross? That we Warleggans dared drag ourselves out of poverty and aspire to gentility? Ross: “Poverty doesn’t offend me. Nor does aspiration. You are mistaken if you think that greed and exploitation are the marks of a gentleman!” George says that Ross will someday find himself without friends or anything and then he’ll be sorry.

At the docks, Ross sees a new ship, with men crowded around the docks, and Matthew Sanson and Trump Warleggan gesturing around it.

D enters Elizabeth’s chamber, where Elizabeth is sitting next to Geoffy-Chuck’s bed, and Francis is tossing in the bed. Elizabeth is pale and barely able to sit up. D tells her that she came to help. “That’s very kind of you” Elizabeth says. Geoffy-Chuck is really sick. “Ha has these spasms, and then he vomits, and there’s some relief, and then it begins again.” D sends Elizabeth to bed, saying that she’ll look after the kiddo. “I’ll stay and look after you all.”

At the Warleggans house, Trump, Matthew, Margaret, and George are sitting around discussing the end of Carnmore and Ross Poldark (what is Margaret doing there? WHAT?) Trump is grumpy that the scheme did get a better deal for the mines for a time. But now the smelting work stand idle, so the price of copper will fall, and Ross has enormous debts and no obvious means to repay them. “Perhaps he will throw himself on your mercy” Margaret says. “He may try,” smirks George. He excuses himself.

Ross is with his banker, going over his assets. The smelting works, on Travaunance land, is being sold to the Warleggans. Sir John needs to cover his losses. “While the rest of us go bankrupt.”

D sponges poor little Geoffy-Chuck, who is so sick he can’t even be fretful. Francis is asleep, and Elizabeth mutters that if the servants hadn’t been so ill… but Dr. Choake said half the village is down, so… D tells her to shush. Francis rouses enough to ask who’s there, and when Elizabeth tells him it’s D, he says that it’s good of D to come, to overlook past quarrels.

Ross asks for an accounting of his own debts, in addition to the mortgage on Nampara. It’s around 900 pounds. His assets are the shares in Wheal leisure. Pascoe had gotten an offer for Ross’ shares, an offer that would clear all of debts. Ross is like I bet you did. On behalf of George Warleggan. “Beggars can’t be choosers,” points out Pascoe. Ross says no, he will this time. The Warleggans MO is to buy mines and close them to get rid of competition, which forces miners out of work and destroys the economy (For Warleggans read Waltons). Ross while not let that happen, not while he can stop it. “So?” “So I require capital of 1000 pounds, without security.”

At Trenwith, D is still nursing. She puts something in brazier for her patients to inhale, and gives Francis a drink to ease the rawness. Francis: “Will he die?” D: “Not if I can help it.”

The ship Ross had been looking at the day before is flying the Warleggans flag. Pascoe meets him, and Ross asks if he had any luck. Pascoe’s like sure, if you call a 12-month load with 40% interest “luck.” Please make better choices. Ross will takes his chances. He knows luck is against him, which is demonstrated in Matthew Sanson strutting about this ship, “like his integrity is not in tatters.” Pascoe: Who’s to gainsay him? The Warleggans run this town. The ship is the Queen Charlotte, the Warleggans’ new flagship.

D walks home in the sunset, and Ross rides up behind her. He doesn’t want her walking about at dusk, since poverty breeds desperate men. She hops up on the saddle before him, and she asks if he has news. “It will keep.” They eat dinner, and Ross tells her that there’s sickness at Trenwith. D knows- G-C had it worst, but she thinks it’s past. Ross is relieved- he may still be mad at Francis, but he wouldn’t wish the putrid throat on his worst enemy (would he say the same if George had it? I wonder.) D says that she swore she’d never keep secrets from him again and she went to Trenwith. “And they turned you away” Ross says slowly. “No, I was there all last night.” Ross: WHY. D: They were so sick and there was no one to tend to them. Someone had to. D thought Geoffy-Chuck died twice. Ross can’t believe D did that, and D’s like look, asshole, what would you have done. Ross admits that yes, it was a kind act, and perhaps in some time he’ll be able to appreciate it.

A storm brews, and Julia is a sad and miserable little boo. Ross wakes up to see D trying to comfort her, and tells her that Julia will catch a chill, and tells D to bring her into their bed. D sets the poor baby in the bed and says that her throat is dry and gets some water. She stops and looks scared enough to alarm Ross, and she tells him that her throat is swollen and he can see that she’s getting a rash. D is terrified, and so is Ross- he runs out to wake up Enys. Without words, the two men just look at each other, and Ross is legitimately terrified.

At Nampara, Enys examines both D and Julia, and they both have it. “How bad will it be?” asks Ross. “If they get through the night…” Enys tells Ross the reality. There’s no reliable treatment, and the only thing Ross can do is pray. Ross sits with D, who is trashing and delirious, while Enys sits with Julia, who is quiet. Ross asks D if she can hear him, and Enys tries to get her to drink something. The fever is getting higher.

D is delirious- she sees her father asking if she’s saved, Francis calling her an impudent trull, Enys saying that she must drink something. Her father says that Drink is the devil’s work, and she must come home. Jinny says they must have corn to feed the children, while Matthew Sanson charges 15 shillings a bushel. She remembers Ross saying that she must not underestimate her ignorance. Enys frets that she’s fading, while D sees Elizabeth telling her that she should just let go, since Ross would rather be with her.

Back in the sickroom (and not D’s head), Enys finds Ross cuddling Julia. “Forgive me. I cannot save her.” Ross will stay with the baby, “I will not let her be afraid.”

Ross comes into D’s sickroom, holding the ribbon with Julia’s name embroidered on it, the one that’s been on the baby’s wrist since she was born. D is asking for Julia in her delirium, and Ross is utterly shattered as he looks at D.

In the daylight, Ross carries a tiny coffin with Enys beside him. At the church, everyone who is well enough to stand is there. All the miners, the other mine owners, the men involved with Cranmore, even Francis, everyone Ross has tried to help since his return.

Trump Warleggan and George are having breakfast, and Trump says that Ross won’t be bothering them for some time- he’s otherwise engaged. “With what?” “His daughter’s burial.” Even George is having a hard time with Trump’s callousness with that statement.

Ross is back with D, holding her hand. Enys tells him to get some rest, and Ross says that he should have provided for them- everyone who came to the funeral. They would have expected refreshment. “It’s custom after the burial. The winter has been harsh I should have fed and watered them.” Enys says that everyone knows that D is still ill. “Everything I touch is cursed….so many came.” “They care for you.” “I should have provided for them.” Enys checks D’s pulse, and tells Ross to get some air and some sleep.

Ross walks along the cliffs above Nampara cove. The seas are rough and angry and throwing mist up the cliffs. Out in the water, Ross sees a ship careening into some rocks, and runs off.

Trump Warleggan brings George a glass, and proposes a toast to “the Maiden voyage of the Queen Charlotte, the demise of the Carnmore Copper Company, and it’s chief architect.” You might wanna slow your roll on that one, dude.

Ross runs home and saddles his horse (Darkie, for book readers), and Enys pops out of the house like “what are you doing you idiot.” Ross is going to provide for the mourners. Ross wakes up Jud and tells him that there’s a shipwreck on the beach, and tells Jud to wake everyone up and get their asses down to the beach. Ross is going to other villages to rouse them. Jud wonders why involve all these other people. “She’s a prize of a ship, carrying food. There’ll be pickings for all.” RULE OF SALVAGE YO

Zacky comes out, asking how Ross knows that this ship has food on it. “I know who owns her!” Ross grins.

On the beach, everyone watches the ship writhe against the rocks, and they wait. Ross has people form a line, has the women start fires on the beach (and calls for the children to keep clear). At the Warleggans, Trump gets a letter and snarls “Hellfire and damnation!” and passes it to George. They realize that the beach is on Poldark land.

On the beach, the first barrels are washing ashore, and Ross breaks open one to find grain. He tells them to feed the children first, more is coming. Trump gets another letter saying that the looting has begun (who’s sending these letters? Everyone on the ship is a bit busy you know, NOT DROWNING, though the visual works well). Trump wants the captain to testify about the lawlessness that’s resulting. “Or better yet get Matthew to testify against Poldark.” George suggests that maybe Matthew won’t witness anything. “Good god boy, you don’t suggest we wait for actual evidence!” Trump is determined to turn this mess to the Warleggans advantage.

People still are grabbing cargo as it washes in. Ropes, food, bales… they sit and begin to drink and laugh as the prospect of full bellies for a while sinks in.

“Do we think he’ll be there?” ask Trump. They both ponder that due to having just buried his daughter, Ross may not be in the mood for plunder. “And if he is?” “He’ll be caught in the act.”

Jud tells Ross that miners from Illongan are coming in to grab what they can of the loot. Jud does a “’Tain’t fit, ’tain’t fair, ’tain’t right ’tain’t proper” rant. “It’s our beach, it’s our vittles!” Ross directs everyone to clear as much cargo as possible before they get there. Once they get there, that’ll be it. Jed grabs the ships figurehead and declares that it’s his (and then he falls down).

George Warleggan talks to a soldier- there’s a serious risk to the passengers and crew if those looting looters aren’t stopped. “And since many of the passengers are gentlemen, including my own cousin Matthew… and then there’s the matter of the cargo.” The soldier points out that general custom is that once something’s washed ashore, it belongs to who ever grabs it first. “It is the property of the Warleggans, and anyone plundering will be guilty of theft, a capital offense.” George hands the soldier a bag of coin, and asks if he’s been clear. He has.

Enys and Jinny sit with D, who has still not woken up (though her hair is remarkably clean for someone who’s been in a fever and then a coma for days). Enys says he could have sworn she would have come round by now, and Jinny asks if she will at all. Enys doesn’t know, and sends Jinny to the beach. There’s a knock on the door, and Jinny comes back, saying that she’ll be off. The knock on the door was, “Someone to look after mistress.”

Paul tells Ross that the miners are at the other end of the beach and Ross calls an end to it. Go home, keeps the women and children safe, and keep your doors shut and bolted. Jud says he won’t (while Prudie looks like she’s real pissed that Jud fucked things up enough that they barely have a door at all). Jud wants to fight, and defend their pickings, and Ross is like no, no, we’ve had the best of her and let them strip her bones if they want.

Someone tells that there are survivors making their way up the beach. Ross runs to help protect the survivors and sends his people away. The miners are fighting over the spoils, and Ross watches them with a mix of pity, understanding, and resignation in his face. He sees some people struggling with one of the survivors, and he beats the miners off and drags the man out of the water. He sees another man on the beach, and it’s Matthew Sanson, and he’s dead. I guess he’s not gonna testify. Ross walks away.

Elizabeth is the one who came to help D.

Ross finds the survivors, and they are understandably wary of his approach. He offers them shelter in his house. “Have you no control over these savages?” “None whatsoever.” The captain says that two years ago he was wrecked off of Patagonia and was not so ill treated. Ross is like well maybe those native weren’t starving to death. “If it were only food! But all of our cargos have been pillaged…it’s monstrous.” Ross is like yeah, but that’s the world. “Those who do not wish to freeze to death follow me.” “How do we know it’s not a trap?” Well, you don’t. But what’s the alternative there, dude?

On their way, they encounter the soldiers. They have their orders to restore order (Ross: good luck with that). Ross suggest they wait until daylight- the miners are drunk now; by daylight they’ll be asleep. One of the soldiers suggests firing into the crowd, which… yeah, no. Ross agrees with me: “Not half of you would come out alive.” (There’s like 10 soldiers, maybe, to a hundred drunk-ass miners.)

At Nampara, Ross asks for the sailors to be quiet. “My wife is seriously ill.” Enys has been dozing in the parlor, and wakes up when they all march in. “Who is with Demelza?”

Elizabeth apologizes for being too weak to come to the funeral, but she wanted to help. “She saved my child.” “Yes.” “And lost yours in return.” Elizabeth would do anything to make this better. Anything. “You can. You can pray to God that I do not lose the love of my life.” Ross goes to D, and begs her to come back to him. Her eyes open. “Has she come to take you?” “No, my love. She will never take me.”

On the beach, in the morning, the soldiers are examining the debris of the wreck, and carrying away Matthew Sanson’s body. George is there, and gives Ross his condolences. “The world is a darker place without her.” “And a brighter one without him.” George asks if Ross could have saved Matthew. Ross, rather than saying “no” just asks why he should have. “Common decency?” Matthew showed none. George tries once again to get Ross on his side. “We could be allies!” “God forbid I should ever be so desperate.”

In her bed, D asks for Julia. Ross doesn’t answer, but tells her about the shipwreck. “Where’s Julia?” Ross’ face tells her and he hands her Julia’s ribbon. D is shattered that she wasn’t with her, and asks if Julia was afraid and alone. No, Ross tells her, no, he held her.

At Trenwith, Francis sits with Elizabeth and Geoffy-Chuck. George comes to call, and is announced by Agatha: “That upstart is here again.” Francis doesn’t want to see him, and asks Elizabeth to tell George that they aren’t well enough. In the dining room, George tells Elizabeth about Matthew, and she replies, “I wish there was some consolation I could offer.” Oh but there is! He macks on her hand, and begins, “Sooner or later we must all declare for one side or the other.” “For what side do you declare?” “For no side.” (WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY GEORGE. WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY). “At least… for no man.” Elizabeth finds this awkward. “You must not say this to me, George.” “Oh, I must, and I do. I will no longer have my feelings misunderstood. Or my intentions.” He leaves. What’s your plan, here, George?

D sits on Julia’s little bed and cries. Ross sits next to her. “I wish… I wish.” “What do you wish?” “I wish I’d had the chance to say good bye.” Ross takes D out to the cliffs, wrapped in a shawl.

D says that Geoffy-Chuck is well, and “we must take heart from that.” D also wants Ross to make up with Francis. “You make me ashamed. Your heart is so generous. You always see the good in things.” Ross pauses. “I will invite him to join me at Wheal Leisure. Together we will try to resurrect the fortunes of the Poldark mines. Will that satisfy you?”

“So there is hope. And it will not have been for nothing after all.” They look down at Julia’s ribbon, and D lets it go into the wind, and they hold each other in the golden light.

“Captain Poldark, I have orders to take you to Truro jail.” The soldiers are there to arrest Ross on charges of wrecking, inciting a riot, and oh, yeah, murder. Ross demands to know who accuses him, and even though they do not answer, he knows it’s George. The solders seize him, and leave Demelza alone, barely convalescent, on the cliff. Luckily for us, there will be a season 2.

RHG:

Okay, well. That was a lot.

First: VERITY AND BLAMEY VERITY AND BLAMEY YAYAYAYAYYAYAYAYAYAYA I AM SO HAPPY FOR THEM.

Second: Ross. ROSS. You blame D for all of this when it’s Francis that’s betrayed you, and George that’s systematically going through and ruining everyone you know and you blame DEMELZA. Don’t be a dick. THROAT-PUNCHING IS ALWAYS AN OPTION. That was some bullshit. They would have found some other way to get the names of the Cranmore partners and the result would have been the same.

I also am kind of concerned with Winston Graham’s habit of having men kill women by accident? As a confirmed Verity/Blamey shipper and fan (and also being in the middle of reading book 3), I believe his version of events- it was an accident. It was terrible, and he was punished for it, and he’s worked to not let such a thing happen again. And we see that Mark killing Keren wasn’t intentional, but it would still be manslaughter. But Graham wrote in both of those things and it’s just… I don’t like that trend.

(Oh, the “putrid sore throat” is diptheria. Here is a blog post on that very subject.)

I loved this show so much. I’m completely obsessed. I bought the soundtrack and I’m reading all the books and no one can stop me. The casting was all around perfect, and the set direction and costumes and everything- I loved it. So much. I want it to come back now, but I’ll settle for a set visit, BBC. That would be nice.

I want to thank PBS for sending us screeners; it made the recapping SO much easier (and that’s how we were able to get the recaps up the day after the episodes aired).

As a note, the DVDs are already for sale, and they have the British edits, so there’s about 7-10 minutes more per episode. I will be reviewing the first two books in the series later this month, and there might be fanfiction at some point in the future you can read. Maybe. I told you I was obsessed.

As a present for reading down this far, here is the song Demelza sings in the middle of the episode (in the US edit — in the UK edit it’s the beginning of episode 8), but it’s on the soundtrack and it’s beautiful.

I’m going to miss this show.