Poldark 2.04

NB: This recap was written using the British edit, since my TiVo didn’t actually record the American airing for some reason.  So if there are scenes you don’t remember, that’s why.

Previously: Ross and Francis are opening up Wheal Grace together, D and Ross have a son, and Verity and Blamey blew threw most of their plot in one episode.

Two boys run along the beach at low tide, one dark haired and the other blond, laughing in a soft focus light. The camera pans and the focus sharpens on Ross, walking along that same beach. He heads to Wheal Grace, where he finds Francis, deep in study. “Father would be amazed.” Ross asks if he means the new engine, but no, Francis means his reading material about the intricacies of mining.

Inside, the engine drains lots and lots of water, and they’ve gambled the last of their capital into it.

In the village, a bunch of men are arrested for smuggling as D comes. She sidles up to a group of women and men who are also involved with the smuggling ring, and asks where they were caught. A cove that’s full of rocks, so they THOUGHT that no one would think anyone would be stupid enough to try to land there. “So was it just ill-luck?” Might be, or someone betrayed them.

At Grace, Henshawe and Zacky have joined the team! George has pretty much taken over Leisure, and as Henshawe says, all the original team can really do is take their dividends and leave the decision making to others. “Now our affections lie with Grace. She may be temperamental, but at least she is ours.” Francis gets a note that Ted Corkey has been arrested, and that he must go and act as magistrate.

Enys is tending to one of the girls in the village (I think the village is Sawle, let’s just go with that, shall we?) who is complaining of knee pain. Choke advised that they just cut it off, but Enys thinks that wrapping it up for a week is a better, less drastic solution. Her father, on the other hand, doesn’t see why they should bother to treat her knee, she’s still getting all her work done. Enys: Uh…she’s in pain? She could be not in pain?

Enys asks the men if they’ll be going to court for Ted – they all kind shrug vaguely and say no, they don’t want to watch him get transported. And the mutterings about a potential informer continue.

At Trenwith, Francis has changed and asks if he looks distinguished enough, and hopes he can help Ted. Aggie, dear aunt Aggie, asks where they hell he thinks he’s going, dressed like that. “I’m due in court.” “ON WHAT CHARGE?” “…carrying out my duty as a magistrate?” He kisses Elizabeth and heads for the door.

At Nampara, D argues with Ross about his going to court to support Ted as well. Ross thinks he should as Ted is one of his tenants, and D thinks he should not, because she doesn’t want anyone to think Ross has any actual association with the free traders. “Three drops in our cove already this year!” (That is 600 pounds, and 18 barrels of salt, D.) “But this wasn’t in our cove!” Ross points out, reasonably. D also wants Ross to tell Trencorm not to use Nampara Cove anyone, either. Ross scoffs, and D reminds him that there’s an informer. “Are you not afeared? Of one of our own betraying us?” Ross promises to keep a close eye on all of their friends, but he’s still going to court. D: “I’ll fetch my hat.”

A swan flaps in a pond, and Caroline’s voice in Killewarren asks if Horace had just yawned, being back in the boonies after a year in London. Unwin says they needn’t stay long, once their engagement is announced. Ray enters and embraces her, and asks if she’s ready to embark on her new life. Caro asks if he thinks the cook has any marzipan. For Horace, of course, and sweeps out of the room. Ray turns to Unwin and asks if she actually agreed to marry, and Unwin is like, um, I think so? I assume so. Ray frowns and sighs. He’s actually having a fucking PARTY and for the sole reason of announcing a damn engagement. So there better be one!

Trenwith, and Aggie is trying very hard to hack up a lung. Elizabeth offers to call Doctor Choke, and Aggie’s like fuck you if I’m gonna allow myself to be bled to death. Besides, I’ve already sent for someone to help. “Doctor Enys?” Aggie scoffs. “Someone FAR more sensible!”

A mail coach travels on the road, and in that coach is Verity. (Alone, because Richard Harrington has gone back to the wilds of Wales to solve murders and run a lot.)

In Truro, at the court hearing, the customs officer gives his final arguments about how smuggling is literally the worst thing someone can do and it’s going to be the unraveling of all society. Francis, IN A WIG that’s so awesome, is sitting with Reverent Hawle, and they confer- basically everyone is VERY concerned about the events in France, and the upper class’s answer to all of this is to keep the commoners in check. And harshly punish anyone who doesn’t conform to their place and have money to buy their way out GEORGE. Francis is not unsympathetic to that concern, buuuuuut he is also concerned with tempering punishment with mercy. Hawse: What the fuck is mercy. “If they want to make martyrs of themselves…” Francis: Then let us disappoint them. Ted is sentenced to 3 months of hard labor and that’s it.

Ross, Francis, and D walk back through town, and Ross congratulates Francis on pulling off that miracle. Francis appreciates the thought, but also knows that Halse has a bunch of smuggled French brandy in his own cellar. But they should be careful and he’ll do his best – if there is an informer (which everyone pretty much agrees there is at this point) there WILL be more cases and Francis won’t be able to save them all.

Enys and George run into each other – George in his carriage, having just returned from London (“I’m already yawning. Can you prescribe a pick-me-up?”) and Enys is walking. Enys asks if George’s mining interests are not invigorating enough, or perhaps his interest in Wheal Leisure isn’t the mining per se? George changes the subject to Ray Penvenen, who Enys is physician to, but since Ray is a healthy man, he rarely sees him. “Whereas I saw a great deal of his niece in London.” Enys, the ever unflappable, merely smiles and says he trusts she was well. George asks if Enys has heard from her, and Enys has not, nor has he expected to. “Then I assume her arrival this afternoon with Unwin for their ‘special announcement’ this evening will not inconvenience you.” Enys doesn’t even flinch, but Luke Norris tightens his mouth the merest bit while he bids George good day.

Through an alley, and there is Caroline, being all Caroline. Only more nervous. “How diverting!” She asks after the scurvy in Sawle. Better, since the potato crop didn’t fail and there are apples. “But no oranges. Dear me, were there no other ladies hereabout to whom you might appeal and tug on the heartstrings and appeal to charity?” He tries to excuse himself, and she’s like, hold up, we haven’t talked in a year! Can you not – no he cannot.

Up, up, up the drive to Trenwith walks Verity, and Elizabeth and Geoffy-Chuck tumble out the door to greet her. “My dears!” Aggie peers out the window, and Verity asks how she is. “All the better for seeing you,” as Aggie smiles and waves, delighted to see her favorite.

Francis walks out the door and hugs his sister. “It’s good to have you home.”

At Chez Warleggan, George walks into the office to see his Uncle, sniffling grossly into a handkerchief (WHICH HE THEN SHOVES UP HIS SLEEVE THAT IS SO DISGUSTING). George wonders why they don’t have a bank in Truro yet, and Cary’s like whatever, I have more interesting things to talk about. Like Ross’s promissory note- the lender believe he’ll never be repaid, and the Warleggans could offer to buy the note. “Why would we do that” Why, then the lender would be at their mercy, of course. George is interested.

Ross and D have been invited to Killewarren for the party! And D is stoked to be eating fine food instead of turnips and pie of dubious filling. Ross advises her not to over do it and trip over Caroline (that’s Unwin’s job BA DUM). “Perhaps if I did, my husband would pay me attention.” Ross asks if he’s been so neglectful. “Ask your other wife, Grace.” Ross admits that he’s been rather focused on the temperamental mine, but tonight he’ll have eyes for none but Demelza.

They walk into the courtyard, and there is Elizabeth and Francis. Elizabeth asks D if she’s wearing a new dress. “If only. You?” “How I wish.” Inside, the table is set, while Unwin is talking to George. Unwin is taking credit, as MP, for the arrests of smugglers, while George is trying to get Unwin’s support for opening up a bank in Truro. The Cousins Poldark enter, and Caroline grins a greeting at all of them, and George eyes Ross and Francis. “Awkward” mutters Francis. “Not for me.” smirks Ross. “Last time we met, he went head over heels.”

Everyone is seated, and Ross is next to Elizabeth, while D is down the table, next to Captain McNeil. Unwin takes his seat at Caro’s left, and she’s like, “Ugh, can you not? Aren’t you sick of my company?” Unwin isn’t! Unwin doesn’t know what she means! Caro asks if Ross has been in any “scrapes” since she’s been away. She found his last court appearance to be diverting. Ross says that he’s been working on being on the straight and narrow, but it’s a work in progress.

Elizabeth mutters in an aside that Caro is quite striking, and then asks, “Do you believe that what the eye does not admire, the heart does not desire?” What? Ross says that’s been trying for him, as Elizabeth should know. She’s like, I should? And Ross shrugs and says that they really don’t know anything about each other at all. “Even before-” “Before you went away.” “Seems like a lifetime ago.” George eyes them.

Down at the end of the table, D asks politely after McNeil, who went away to recover from a fever, but he’s returned to deal with the free traders. D tells him that he’ll surely have fun exploring the coves and what not. But of course, on his last visit, the free traders were put down, weren’t they? McNeil grins wolfishly – one may never know how they disguise themselves. D smiles charmingly. “I hope you do not suspect me of being such a one!” Her end of the table laughs in delight. She’s GOOD.

Ross is less good, musing that he didn’t realize how young Elizabeth was when she promised to marry him. Elizabeth says she was old enough to know her own mind. Well, they’ll agree she was young, and then she thought Ross was dead. “Did I? Or did I think I loved Francis better?” ELIZABETH. “How soon I discovered my mistake.” Ross: You’re joking. E: “Is it so astonishing that a woman that changed her mind would do so again? Can a woman love two men? Cannot a man love two women?” ELIZABETH STOP. She claims to be happy with Francis, but a piece of her heart will always belong to Ross, just as a piece of hers will be his.

Outside, Ross is thinking, and overhears Unwin arguing with Caroline, and Caroline basically ignoring him, until Unwin storms past, scowling. “INFURIATING WOMAN.” A few beats later, and Caroline calmly comes down the same path, and smiles at Ross, asking after Enys. “Married to his work. No time for distractions.” “Would you count me a distraction?” Ross wouldn’t dare to put her and Enys together for any reason, but Enys will, of course wish her congratulations on her engagement.

And Trenwith, Verity leads Enys into the parlor. Aggie isn’t well, and complains of a cough and all these things, but Verity isn’t able to figure out what’s wrong. Aggie grouches that she doesn’t NEED a doctor, now that Verity is there. Enys is like, yeah, but we should figure out what the problem is so it can be managed when she goes home, right? “THIS IS HER HOME. What is there to interest her elsewhere?” “A husband.” Verity says. Lots of sex, say I.

Aggie complains that Trenwith hasn’t been the same, and Enys will try to figure out what’s up. “Are you married?” Aggie asks. Enys tells her no.

Speaking of, dinner is over, and Ray is making a little speech. In December, Caro will turn 21 and come of age in December, but before that, she’ll be someone else’s problem! But before he can finish, he notices a lack of Unwin. “CAROLINE” “I believe I saw him heading for his horse.” (D and Ross exchange a look that says she just won a bet.) “I hope I haven’t said anything to upset him. SHALL WE HAVE DANCING?” The band strikes up an English country dance.

Trenwith, Enys gives Verity a prescription (Honey, juniper, etc) but as to what ails aunt Aggie? He does not say.

Ross, D, Francis and Elizabeth dance while George and Caroline watch.

She notes that it’s so rare to see a married couple enjoy each other’s company, but then, they married for love. “Allegedly,” says George. “Dear me. How reckless.” Caro struts away as Francis walks over to George. George says that’s it’s a pleasure to see Francis, and Francis is like, I still hate you though. George claims that this fight is silly and he expects it from Ross, but COME ON FRANCIS, we’re bros! Francis walks away while Ross walks up, and George about craps his very expensive pants. “I had not expected to see you.” Ross smirks, “Ray Penvenen will insist on inviting the riff-raff.” George asks if Wheal Grace will be prosperous, and wishes he had Ross’ confidence. “Must you be envious, even of that?” Ross hisses in his ear and leaves.

George stomps home and yells at his uncle that they WILL get the promissory note. By any means necessary.

In bed, D asks Ross what Elizabeth was saying to him, and Ross answers nothing of importance.

At Trenwith, Francis enters Elizabeth’s room, and asks if he may join her. She smiles, and he shuts the door.

At Wheal Grace, the next day, Francis, Ross, and Henshawe compare notes – the pump is pumping out water, they’re ready to begin blasting, so with luck, they’ll hit the elusive Trevorgie lode within days. “Let’s get started!” Francis bounces off. Henshawe remarks to Ross that he had his doubts about Francis, but he’s doing well. Down the tunnel, some of the miners are in an argument – one of them is suspected to be the informer and the argument is turning into a very lopsided fight. Ross is unsurprised by the suspect, and goes over to see what’s what.

Nick claims he has no idea why people are mad at him, and Ross surmises that maybe it’s his habit of turning against “his fellow man.” “I, sir?” “You, sir. Letting Jim Carter take the blame for your poaching escapades.” Nick says that he’s innocent of THIS, and by the way, Ross has no idea what it’s like to live in squalor, even if he DOES slum with scullery maids. GET HIM ROSS. Ross does with one punch before Henshawe pulls him off.

Up top, Nick walks away, and is noted by McNeil, who follows him.

George is still practicing at his fucking boxing when his uncle walks in, asking what price he’s pay for Ross’ promissory note. “Any.” “Thought so.” He’s got it. George gets a boner. “What will you do with it?” “That will depend.”

And George rides to Trenwith, where Elizabeth is shocked he would call after what Francis said the night before. George doesn’t expect Elizabeth to take sides, but she knows this is ridiculous, right? Elizabeth: Francis blames you for the prosecution of Ross. George: That’s ridiculous, too! We’ve never seen eye to eye, but on my side, it’s a “clash of personalities, on his, it’s a disease!” Since Ross skips from one disaster to another and blames George for all of them! The smelting company was a disaster (that George destroyed) and then, instead of asking for help, Ross signed a note for 1000 pounds! For 40% interest! And he’ll drag Francis down with him and blame George for that too! Elizabeth asks how George knows all of this, and he’s like, oh, it just fell into our hands, and I get to deal with it. How will George do that? “Do you want me to make a gift of it to him?” “Would you?” If he makes nice. “What would you ask in return?” “Merely to be admitted to your friendship again.”

Aggie scowls into the room, saying she remembers when Francis first brought George over, in his frills and frippery. “I remember, too.” “SPEAK UP BOY I’M A LITTLE DEAF.” Aggie has no fucks when it comes to George. None at all. George steps closer, “and still above ground. There should be a law to kill off old crones.” “Silks and velvets. It’s plain your mother had no taste.” “If you were the last of the Poldarks, I’d do it myself.” (Oh, she will be, and will outlive you.) “Tearing about like a bull calf just freed from its stall.” “But never fear, your great-nephew is digging enough graves without my help.” Aggie looks at him and smiles balefully. “Good bye, old woman. I hope when I next visit, you’ll be six feet below.”

McNeil has dropped by Nampara, and mentions that he noticed Nick walking away from Wheal Grace with bruises and shit, and muses that perhaps people thought he was an informer, but is certain that he is not. D blinks innocently and hands him tea. And asks if he was able to discover who the informer is, then? McNeil, who is not as dumb as all that, smiles and says that he just hopes no one will beat Nick up for being an informer anymore. “One can only feel for the man’s wife, having such temper to contend with.”

In Sawle, Rosina (the girl with the bad knee) finds Enys and fills him on Nick getting a beat down. He asks if he’s really suspected, and Rosina tells him that everyone suspects everyone at this point. A young man, Charlie, approaches and asks Enys to tell Rosina that his health is SO MUCH BETTER since he stopped mining and became a sailmaker, you know, if he were to marry again. Enys asks if he has anyone in mind, and Charlie, eyes on Rosina, says, “Maybe.” But Rosina has her eye on “someone else” (while eyeing Enys) and Charlie’s like, “He’s not for you.” “Nor for any maid. I’m wedded to my work.” I HAVE HEARD THAT ONE BEFORE DWIGHT.

And who should he see around the corner but one Caroline Penvenen. He tries to walk past, but she won’t let him ignore her – she wants to apologize for her discourtesy. Despite himself, he stops. “There. You weren’t expecting that.” They walk together, and she asks if he dislikes her so much. No, not unless you call her getting in between him and his work for the past year, not being able to forget her voice or “the way you turn your head, or the lights in your hair…dreading to hear of your marriage…if that’s dislike.” Can she diagnose his problem? “Do you ride for pleasure? I shall be in the woods near Killewarren around 8 tomorrow.” She runs off. Oh my god, you two.

Ross has come home, and D fills him in on McNeil. (“Enticed by your smiles of last night, no doubt.”) “You think he comes here for me, but what if he comes here for you?” He might have suspicions about Ross’ involvement! Well, then there’s a problem, because McNeil will get suspicious if D suddenly won’t give him tea anymore. D: Oh so this is my fucking fault?

Trenwith, Francis has also come him, and Aggie gleefully fills him in on George’s visit. “What did he want?” “To be reconciled with you,” says Elizabeth. She wants Francis to “modify his hostility,” so George doesn’t take advantage of the power he holds. Francis ponders, and says perhaps he’ll ride over and see George. “Wish me dead, he did,” mutters Aggie. “Called me ‘old crone’.” Verity: “What’s that?”

That evening, Francis rides to Chez Warleggan. He has some words for George: “You will never again set foot in my house. Nor approach me or my family. Including my son. He is no longer your godson. We are no longer your friends. Turn us out of Trenwith if you like. It will be a small price to pay to be away from your noxious presence.” He turns on his heel and leaves. Cary froths that George should call in the loans immediately, but George will not cause harm to Elizabeth. But he’s got the promissory note, and that will do.

At Nampara, D is helping Ross with his bath and musing that Francis has turned into a reasonable human, and that if one put Ross and Francis together, you’d have a complete man. She’s not wrong.

Early morning, Elizabeth is asleep with Geoffy-Chuck. Francis watches them sleep, then tells G-C to let Mama sleep. He’s got to be off to the mines,for the blasting, but he’ll be home in time to read Geoffy-Chuck a story.

At the mine, the boys have set the fuses, and Francis says he thinks their luck will change today. “It’ll have to, after what I said to George yesterday.”

At Nampara, Enys rides past where D is out in the yard. He’s got a rendezvous, and D is THRILLED because she loves getting people together. He tells her not to get too excited, because their stations are too far apart. She’s an heiress and Enys is… “Not as low as a kitchen maid.” D wonders, reasonably, why a woman cannot confer status on the man. Enys rides up, passing a messenger who delivers a note to D.

At the mine, they blast. “Here’s to copper, gentlemen.” Ross and Francis sort through the rubble and find a few stones to examine more thoroughly in the daylight, when there’s a messenger for Ross – D is above ground. The note is from Pascoe, and he needs to see Ross. Right away.

In the woods, Enys meets up with Caroline. They awkward at each other, but Caroline tells him that she’ll be leaving that day – Ray is angry with her and wants her locked away before her marriage, which will be…who knows when, but not Unwin. “He jilted me.” Or was it the other way round. “Tell me, who is Dwight Enys?” Is he the strong doctor, or the hesitant one? He’s a dude who spent all of his money on his studies and never learned how to talk to girls. He can deal with a sore throat, but a drawing room? Or her laughing at him? He’s hopeless. She tells him that spent her life learning to be and heiress – she wan walk and dance and ride, but, “You say you don’t know women except as patients. I don’t know men at all.” He steps towards her. “What would you like to know?” and he kisses her, and she kisses back.

When he steps back, he says that she now hates him, of course. “And no, no doubt, I hate you.” But here’s the thing. She bids him goodbye until December. “Nothing will change.” “One thing will change. In December, I come of age.” He smiles.

At Trenwith, Elizabeth and Verity walk with Geoffy-Chuck – Elizabeth doubts that Francis actually made peace with George, and that Francis is determined to be the one to find actual copper in the mine.

Speaking of, Francis is back underground, sorting through rocks. Once catches his interest, and the music turns hopeful. Up top, he asks for Henshawe, but Henshawe has left, so he heads for Nampara, instead. D tells him that Ross isn’t there, and he plunks two stones on the table. “It’s never copper!” D gasps. Francis can hardly dare hope, but…maybe. He’s going to head back to the mine, as it’s his dearest wish to be of use to Ross. And to make amends. “You do not ask me what amends I need to make.” D doesn’t want to know, but Francis tells her about how he gave George the names of the Carnmore shareholders and that why that concern failed. She nods slightly. “You cannot rebuild a friendship by ignoring what destroyed it.” He goes for the door, and she stops him. “One bad thing does not outweigh the many good.” She believes the balance is what counts.

“I don’t wonder Ross loves you.” “You suppose he still does…sometimes I think he loves Elizabeth better.” Francis sits. “You have one failing, and that is that you don’t think well enough of yourself.” She married into this ancient family, and took on its standards, but Ross was wise enough to marry her. But Elizabeth was Ross’ first love, and “…how can I compete with perfection?” “You must do away with the notion that someone has done you a favor by letting you into this family. Will you do that?” D promises to try, and Francis kisses her hand in farewell.

Francis rides back to the mine.

In Truro, Ross has been given the bad news- George has the note, and Pascoe doesn’t think that George will be sympathetic about any requests for an extension.

In the mine, Francis passes a bunch of miners leaving for the day.

At Trenwith, Enys has a diagnosis for Aggie’s condition: she misses Verity, and Verity has a life in Falmouth (FALMOUTH GODDAMMIT). And in matters of the heart, Verity must be the physician. Enys leaves, and Verity goes to talk to Aggie: she has to leave tomorrow, she misses Blamey (yeah, get it girl). But Aggie says that he doesn’t NEED her, it’s not like she has children, and also the cards promise some impending doom. (Verity and ELizabeth roll their eyes at each other)

Francis is still poking at stones, when something down the tunnel catches his eye. He takes the lantern, and there, in the wall, is a streak of copper-colored stone, but then he slips and falls into a shaft full of water. He struggles, and eventually grips a nail in the stone. He shouts for help, but no one is there to hear.

At Trenwith they set the table for dinner, and Elizabeth has sent to Nampara for Francis to come home for Verity’s last dinner.

Speaking of Nampara, Ross announces to D the situation – he has to come up with 1400 pounds by Christmas, or they lose everything and he goes to debtor’s prison. But before they can even grapple with that problem, Prudie tells them that someone came from Trenwith, looking for Francis. D asks if he’s at the mine. “At this hour?”

Francis is still struggling in the water, holding onto the nail, and a fog bank is rolling in. Ross and Henshaw note that Francis’ hat and coat are in the office, and go looking.

Trenwith: Verity is reading ot Geoffy-Chuck, while Aggie shuffles the cards. At the mine, Prudie brings D her shawl when Enys shows up. Henshawe sent for him.

Ross and Henshaw search, Francis tries to hold on.

Aggie deals the cards.

Francis remembers himself and Ross as small boys, playing in the ocean. “Ross! Help me!” young Francis yells, and Adult Ross yells. “I knew you would come!” Francis hold out his hand, but it’s a hallucination, and he loses his grip on the nail and sinks.

Ross and Henshawe find Francis’ tolls, and then the shaft. And Francis’ body. Ross pulls him out and cradles his cousin. “Why the hell didn’t you learn to swim?”

At Trenwith a horse rides up, and there’ a knock on the door. It’s Ross. looking shattered, and Elizabeth’s face begins to crack.

Francis’ funeral: Ross is one of the pallbearers, and the music is a mournful, full-throated version of Resurgam from season one. Sobbing, Elizabeth falls into Ross’ arms, while Demelza looks on.

RHG: Oh, Francis.  Francis, Francis, Francis. Poor, stupid, earnest Francis. You were never meant to be a functional adult. I really liked how Kyle Soller played Francis, especially this season. I’ll miss your face, Francis, but not your stupid suspenders.

Okay, for people who has seen the most recent episode aired in the UK: