Poldark 2.07

Previously: All sorts of shit.

Trigger warning for sexual assault at the end of the episode.

In the yard at Nampara, D takes in the laundry and Jud comes in to talk to Ross. D eyes them darkly, and Ross tells her that Jud brought a proposal from Trencrom. D asks him if Ross will never learn, and Ross is like, no, probably not. D reminds him that he’s standing trial for the whole smuggling business, and Trencrom is asking Ross for MORE? Fuck that. “He can sling his proposals and his guineas!”

George and Cary are getting ready to go to court, and Cary says his bet is on transportation. George doesn’t really care about the result, any discrediting of Ross in the courtroom will drive Elizabeth further towards George. Cary smirks that George seems rather sure of himself, and George is like, yeah, I laid the foundations, I expect this result I want.

In Truro, Ross and the others are before the magistrates, and Hawle smirks that Ross does seem rather unable to learn from his mistake. Ross disagrees- he wasn’t at Nampara, he’s got three witnesses to attest that he was at St. Ives. Hawle says that Vernoe said that Ross WAS there, and Ross broke his nose. Ross is VERY sorry about the nose, VERY VERY sorry, but he has these witnesses, you see. Hawle sighs and dismisses the case. Ross sits down next to D (who kisses his shoulder) and Enys is called.

Hawle has read Enys’ statement and isn’t convinced. What would cause a sane man to stand on a cliff edge and build a bonfire just RANDOMLY? “It was a cold night and my coat was thin.” Hawle is not amused, and says that it is the responsibility of gentlemen to help stamp out illegal activity. “What do you have to say for yourself?” “Nothing that would convince you.” Enys is fined 50 pounds.

Outside, Jud mutters to Enys that Trencrom is happy to pay the fine, and Enys stonefaces back that he will pay his own fine, thank you. Ross tries to convince him otherwise, because Trencrom takes care of his friends, and Enys is like, that fuck ain’t my friend. Ross tells Enys that they do owe him, Enys, an enduring debt, to which Enys is dismissive. D’s like, whatever, let’s get to the important shit. When do you leave for Bath? Enys has no plans to do so. The wedding is off, “We’re incompatible, I see that now.” D is crushed. I am sad.

Over dinner at Nampara, D remarks that she never thought she’d see the day where Ross played the penitent to avoid jail. “I played the game! I thought that’s what you wanted.” He then swears he will never again be guilty of such recklessness.

Henshawe comes in with a sack of rocks – it’s tin! Tin can be sold! Ross is grouchy that Henshawe expects him to get excited over some tin when it’s copper they’ve been looking for. D examines one of the rocks and asks who found it. Ted and Paul, and they’re very excited. Henshawe wants Ross to come see the tin in situ for himself.

At the mine, Ross remarks that they were told that the engine that pumps out the water would last 50 years, while the boys are all hyped up for Ross to see the tin. Henshawe asks if D is going to join them down below. “No, I think not. But do take my assistant and see he reports back to me.”

Underground, Ross examines the line of tin and admits that it doesn’t look bad. He tells the boys to pull up what they can; it’ll help their final earnings. Henshawe muses that it’s odd, finding tin under copper, when normally you’d expect it the other way around. Ross is like yeah, that is weird, but what can you expect me to do about it? I don’t have 20 pounds and we’d need more to keep things going.

At Enys’ cottage, a messenger brings him a packet – it’s all of the letters he sent Caroline, and one from her. She’s returning his letters, which she has fully digested and finds nothing in them to change her mind. He prefers his patients and friends to her, which is fine, because now she knows. Also, she asks him to please never contact her again.

In Tru-Mouth, Elizabeth, her mother, and Geoffy-Chuck sit in a fancy-ass carriage, and Elizabeth sees Demelza. She calls D over, who walks over with the polite smile of someone plotting how best to slit her enemy’s throat. Elizabeth says she meant to call to thank D for her kindness the past few months. “In lending you my husband?” D asks, politely. E’s like… yes? “Oh you’re welcome to him. So long as you remember where he belongs and send him back when you’re done.” D smiles the smile of a woman who has looked upon the field in which she grows her fucks and has found it barren.

George, who of course owns the fancy-ass carriage, appears behind D and congratulates her on Ross’ escape from legal consequences. Again. D smiles and leaves because no one has time for this shit. George, of course, has ANOTHER expensive present for G-C, because it is his DUTY to spoil his godson and creep on his godson’s mother.

Nampara, bedtime. D mentions that she saw Horace Treneglos. “Oh?” Horace mentioned to D that Ross had sold all his shares in Wheal Leisure. “Oh.” D’s like, he was surely wrong, right? Since if you HAD done so, you would have mentioned it to me? Your wife? Ross: I’ve been meaning to tell you, it wasn’t a good time/I didn’t know how to begin. But since Francis sank his last 600 pounds in Grace, and Elizabeth had all these debts, so Ross bought her shares. “But why…” Because he had a feeling of obligation! Just, obligation! “Are you angry?” “That you helped Elizabeth?” “And Geoffrey-Charles.” “Leaving me and Jeremy to fend for ourselves?” “You have me to fend for you. They have no one.” Oh no, D, says. No, Elizabeth has George. “If Elizabeth would let him. Which she will not.” Ross explains that George’s whole raison d’etre is to drive a wedge between Francis and Ross, and by helping Elizabeth he helps her strengthen her hand against George. Win-win! “Yes, Ross.” Ross eyes D because even he is not stupid enough to not realize that she’s not buying his shit.

Later, Prudie comes running across the fields to tell D that Ted’s wife is in labor, and Enys is nowhere to be found. If only they had a pager or something. “Ross! Fetch me the brandywine!” Prudie and D toss Jeremy to Ross and hurry off. Just as it seems that we’ll be treated to Ross actually, like, PARENTING, Jud comes running up to say that Captain “Uh…What’s his name…Henshawe…Your mine…something…” has asked that Ross come down to the mine. Ross fobs Jeremy off on Jud and takes off. “Won’t be long.” Jud looks at Jeremy with alarm.

D and Prudie run up to Betty’s house, where she’s screaming. “I brought you something for the pain.” D hands her the bottle of brandywine, and Betty takes a HUGE swig. Enys has been found, and they get down to business.

In the mine, the boys are extremely pleased with the lode so far, and Henshawe says that it seems a shame to let it fill up with water. They don’t have anymore coal, though. Henshawe says that he is totally willing to fork out another 100 pounds, which would see them through the next month. “You’d be willing to do that? After all our failures?” Henshawe is – this one might actually pay off.

Betty yells and pushes and with some ceremony, a baby starts crying. Ted runs in saying there’s news of Grace, and hey, there’s a new baby boy, too! Grace is going to stay open another month, and there’s tin, so maybe, just maybe.

George is still doing his stupid boxing or whatever, and Cary asks if George is planning on joining the army. “Why would I do that, with battlefronts of my own at home?” Speaking of, have the troops been deployed yet? Yes, Cary says, as we see a bunch of ragged men putting a ladder against the wall at Trenwith.

Inside, Elizabeth is pacing, while her mother tells her to calm down, as a wrinkled brow is not becoming (you wanna see my brow after this summer and fall, Mrs. Chenowith? DO YOU?) Elizabeth says she is at her wits end with all these questions that only she, as mistress of Trenwith and the owner (sort of) of the estate can answer. Tithes about fishing boats and – outside the window she sees the men digging in her lawn. “Dear god, is there no end to it!” They are tinners who are exercising their rights to prospect for tin under stannary law. Mrs. Cheno begins a tirade that would have covered the sanctity of a gentleman’s estate, but before she can really get going, she coughs and hits the floor.

In Grace, the tin isn’t petering out, and even Henshawe is feeling hopeful.

Mama Cheno is in bed, face frozen horribly, and Enys is giving the bad news – the damage is a lot, and she needs a LOT of care, constant, for the rest of her life. “But…we cannot afford a nurse. Who is to…me.” Aggie demands to know who will take care of HER, as she was there first! Elizabeth mumbles that she needs to speak to Ross, and Enys asks if there’s seriously no one else she can turn to. The camera pushes in on Elizabeth’s face as she realizes what corner she’s been backed into.

George rides up the lane, and Elizabeth watches as he dismisses the tinners. Down in the study, George asks how Mama Cheno is doing. It’s bad, and George is deeply grieved. “I know how fond you are of her,” Elizabeth says, without noting that it’s a little weird. George offers to make all the necessary arrangements – setting her up with an establishment at Trenwith so Elizabeth doesn’t need to worry her pretty head. Elizabeth, is of course, deeply uncomfortable with this offer. “You’re so frail, Elizabeth! You try to be strong, but now it is you that needs care!” Elizabeth protests that she’s stronger than she looks, and one must take what life sends. “But not what I send?” George has given so much already. “A few trifles for my godson, but nothing for yourself! At least let me help your dear mother.” Elizabeth says that his generosity would make her ashamed to say no.

George offers that there is one thing she could not refuse him that would solve EVERYTHING. “Yourself.” Elizabeth looks supremely uncomfortable, as she should, and George is like, I’ve loved you forever, I served you in the only ways I could, I was nice to Francis and forgave his debts and all, and didn’t ruin him when he insulted me, and then he died and I took care of you as best you would allow me, so please marry me! (This is so creepy you guys) He says he knows that she doesn’t love him, but that she does like him, and maybe that could grow to love. She tries to interrupt, but he’s on a tear: he can’t bring her breeding, but he can bring gentility (“That is all the more punctilious for being only a generation deep.”) He knows she would not marry for money, but he has money, though and a big house and servants (she looks out the window and the tinners are leaving) and a phaeton and she could have one too. Or three. Or four! He’d adopt Geoffy-Chuck, so he could be George’s heir. “You’ve lived so long in a cage, let me give you the key.”

She doesn’t know what to say, and he takes her hands. “Say nothing, my dear. I don’t ask for an answer now.” She admits she feels so alone, and he’s like, men feel loneliness, too. “Especially when they have loved as long as I have.” I need a SHOWER my god this is so yucky. Elizabeth sits down, and Aggie, who has overheard enough, quotes Matthew 4:8: Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee…” Elizabeth is like, yeah, ALL THESE THINGS, which we need (except that 4th phaeton, Liz. That’s a bit much). “What’s he expecting in return? A heart? When you’ve none to give? Having long ago bestowed it elsewhere.”

In the mine, Ross asks when they’ll need timbers. Henshawe notes that timbers cost. Ted and Paul are both like, yeah, they do, and they’ve been going without timbers for a while, so they’ll just keep going. Henshawe tells a somewhat dubious Ross that there isn’t another mine that wouldn’t take the same chance. Ross nods.

Trenwith, a carriage rolls up, and it’s Verity and her stepson, James, standing in for Blamey. In the parlor, James is playing cards with Aggie (and having a fine old time, the both of them. He really is a golden retriever of a person) while Verity and Elizabeth catch up. Verity notes that a nurse will cost a lot, and instead of answering, Elizabeth glances at Francis’ portrait and says that it must be weird to be at Trenwith without Francis. “No more than for you?” Elizabeth says that she’s had to get used to it, for poor Geoffy-Chuck’s sake. Aggie slams down her last card and crows to Geoffy-Chuck “And that, boy, is how you put the Navy in it’s place!” James notes that Aggie is a fiend at French Ruff. (“Obviously I let her win.” “Obviously.”) Verity says that they are expected at Nampara, and will Elizabeth join them? Aggie cocks an eyebrow, and Elizabeth pleads a headache.

Verity gives Elizabeth’s apologies to Ross and D, and James the Puppy says that if he were five years older, he’d throw himself at Elizabeth’s feet. Verity tells him that she’d likely trample him underfoot, but then notes that she saw that the mine was still working. Ross says that they are limping along, living on a shoestring, and D’s like, it’s not that bad, they found tin! Ross admits the quality of the ore is promising, and Verity hopes that their luck will soon change, it’s overdue.

James tells Ross that they keep a very tidy ship, and asks Ross if he has his own cabin. Ross takes him on the tour.

Enys rides to the woods where he and Caro would meet, and of course she is not there. He is very sad.

D and Verity sit by the fire and Verity asks if they see much of Elizabeth. D says that Elizabeth doesn’t come by much, but she’s sure happy to see Ross. Why does Verity ask? Verity isn’t sure but she senses something, “She seemed– innerly excited.” And like her circumstances were about to change. Does D know why? No, D says. Maybe Verity should ask Ross. “That seems a little bitter?” “Does it? He just sees more of her, that’s all.” D finally breaks a little bit and admits that she has doubts about Ross and his fidelity, and that if Ross had to make a choice between D and Elizabeth, D’s pretty sure he’d choose Elizabeth. “You cannot believe that!”

Ross and James are comparing notes, and James is excited to be sailing out – war is pretty much inevitable and James is, like young men from the beginning of time, hoping to see some excitement before it ends. Enys knocks, and Ross introduces him. James eyes Enys speculatively, and notes that the Navy IS on the lookout for good surgeons. Pride and glory beckon, as does blood and gore. Enys finds the idea worth considering, at least, and it would give him something to DO (that actually pays!). Ross agrees that idleness sucks, and they all drink.

D, like myself, is completely taken with James. “Like the west wind, all gisty and clean and kind.” He and Verity adore each other, and D’s like, that’ll make up for… “What? Not having a child of my own? There’s nothing to make up for.” I TOLD YOU THEY WERE HAVING QUITE A LOT OF SEX.  She’s due in October (a fine month to be born) and D could not be happier.

In bed, D stares at the bed hangings, and Ross asks if it’s Verity’s news that keeps her awake, and she’s like, sure. That’s it. Ross can’t imagine what else might keep her awake. (I don’t know, how they’ll support themselves, Ross’ infatuation with Elizabeth, smugglers, the wind, a cramped foot, what to make for dinner, will Jeremy grow up to be as big an ass as his father, a lumpy pillow, sharing her bed with a selfish dickbag? Just guessing.) “No, I don’t suppose you can.”

The next day, McNeil has stopped by to visit with D, and she asks him if it’s safe for him to be riding so soon after he’s gotten injured. He tells her that she left him no choice, because she never visited him. She’s like, last time you visited it was without an invite, so…Well, see, that was for duty. This is “in pursuit of pleasure.” OH MY GOD THE MEN ON THIS SHOW. DIE IN A FUCKING FIRE. D’s like, welp, my husband ain’t here, and McNeil is like, yeah, you told me that before, and HE WAS THOUGH, we both know that. “Do we?” He says that he knew that if he posted a watch, they’d find out where Ross was, but they didn’t, because of his regard for D. And he trusts that D doesn’t hold it against him for what he did.

But he’s here for gossip! What can D tell him about Elizabeth? D has nothing to tell him, and asks what he’s heard. Oh not much, but that Sir Hugh shares a tailor with a certain person, and that certain person has ordered wedding clothes. D’s face barely contains her shock, and asks who that might be. “Can you not guess? Why, George Warleggan! Had you no idea?” “No, I mean, why yes, I had some suspicion.”

In the kitchen, Prudie is playing with Jeremy, when D tells her that Elizabeth and George are going to be married. Prudie’s like, that’ll shock Ross. “Ross mustn’t be told. He’ll find out soon enough, but not from me.”

At the mine, the miners mine, and above ground, Enys is telling someone to eat more fresh veggies. Ross walks over and asks if Enys hasn’t had his fill of scurvy? Enys is still on the lookout for something to do, and isn’t Ross tempted? Ross admits that if duty calls, he’ll go, but he’s had enough of combat. “Whereas I can almost hear the cannons.” It’s not cannons, though, as Chekhov’s Lack of Timber Supports comes into play. Under ground, there’s a rumble and some earth falls, and the men don’t book it QUITE quick enough, but book it they do.

Ross and Enys hear the rumbling from above, and run to the entrance. The rumbling is heard from Nampara, and D and Prudie drop everything and run to help.

In the mine, Ross asks how many are down there, and they bring up Paul, and Ted is still missing. Ross says that they don’t stop looking until he’s found.

George goes to Trenwith to tell Elizabeth about the accident (HOW DOES HE KNOW? I DON’T KNOW) and that Ross “…is dead?” No, he’s alive, but a bunch of the miners are dead. Elizabeth asks what happened, and George says that it was what inevitably happens when corners are cut in the interest of profits. “I can only feel for his wife and child, innocent casualties of an overwhelming hubris now condemned to a life of penury.” George excuses himself, and Elizabeth thinks for a second, glances at Aggie challengingly, and runs outside. Aggie draws a card, and it’s The Devil. She watches through the window as Elizabeth runs out to George in the drive, says something, and George kisses her hand. When Elizabeth comes back in, Aggie says, “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

At Grace, Ted has been found, but he was buried too long and Enys can’t bring him back. Henshawe and Ross tally the butcher’s bill – 2 dead and five wounded. And Ross feels like it’s his fault for not finding the money for the timbers. Henshawe also notes that they lost 200 fathoms of pumping equipment, and it’ll take weeks to clear, even if they had the money for it. Ross says that he wouldn’t, even if he had the money. “This mine has claimed three lives. It was an ill-conceived venture from the start. It will never open again.” Ted’s wife Betty, she of the new baby, weeps over Ted’s body, and Ross kneels in front of Demelza. She takes his hands, in comfort or benediction.

Elizabeth writes to Ross, admitting she doesn’t know how to tell him.

George boxes some more and gloats about how he’s secured the hand of the woman he loves and dealt a killing blow to his worst enemy. He’s very pleased with himself and punches out his opponent just because he can. “Sometimes I don’t know my own strength.”

D and Ross come home, and Ross finds a letter on the table. He reads it and sits down heavily by the fire. D hesitantly asks what it is, and it’s a letter from Sir Hugh, inviting them to a ball. Obviously they can’t go, and just as D starts to relax, Prudie brings in a letter from Trenwith. D swallows and Ross doesn’t open it, but goes to the sideboard to pour a drink. THEN he opens it.

“I know what I have to say will distress you. And I, who gave you so much pain once before would do almost anything except to hurt you again and in the same way. But it seems I must. Oh Ross, my life has been very frustrating, and since Francis died, an empty one. Perhaps I am the wrong sort of person to be left alone I seem to need to strength and protection only a man can give. I have agreed to marry George Warleggan.”

Ross looks up, face full of thunder, and says that he is going to Trenwith. D begs him not to, not tonight, and he’s like, hold up, do you know what this is? D takes a breath, and asks if it’s about George. Ross is TOTALLY betrayed. “YOU KNEW? And you didn’t think to tell me?” And get my head snapped off? I don’t think so. Ross says that he must stop this thing, and D’s like no, maybe not, maybe you shouldn’t do what you intend. “How do you know what I intend?” “I don’t know, Ross! How do I know you? And yet I think I do.” Ross asks her to get out of his way, and she tries one more time to get him to stay. “Please. Get out. Of my way.” He stalks off, and D’s face is so full of fury and pain.

Ross rides to Trenwith and pounds on the door – it’s dark. He kicks in the door, and Elizabeth, up in her room, hears the door and looks resolutely at the mirror. Aggie, in her bed, also hears Ross shouting for Elizabeth.

Elizabeth opens her door to him, and he says, bitterly, that he has come to pay his respects and to congratulate her. She says that perhaps morning would be a better time, and he’s like no. Now. She steps aside and lets him in. He paces up and down while she says that she hated sending him the letter, but she’s said everything. Ross disagrees – George is his greatest enemy, and he’s considered her to be his greatest friend. And how does that math work? She says that she is still his friend, and he’s like, 12 months ago, you told me you’d made a mistake in marrying Francis, and you realized quite soon that it was I you should have married. Elizabeth doesn’t disagree, but tells him that in the early days both of them were unhappy, and that it wasn’t his mistake, but hers. “That mistake, as you call it, has cost many people dear. Francis. Yourself. Myself. What mistake are you making now?” Elizabeth tells him that George has been so good to her, so kind. And that Ross is wrong to think of him as his greatest enemy. “The man who tried to get me hanged?”

Elizabeth, living in a post-truth era, doesn’t believe that George really did do that. “And now I think I can help mend the breach between you.” “Are you marrying him for his money?” Elizabeth is like, hey now, how very dare you. You call it disloyalty to you, but I call it loyalty to my son. Besides, you can’t offer me anything better, would you condemn me to 30 years of widowhood? She steps close to him and says, “Do you?” Ross asks if she loves George. “Yes.” He doesn’t believe her, not when she sounds the same way as when she said she loved Francis, and she could have her PICK of 30 men, but NOT GEORGE. She tells him to leave. He refuses, and snaps that her poor life is all beyond her control. “Or perhaps you can’t help this, either.” And he forcefully kisses her. He pulls back, then steps towards her, while she backs up. He says that he forbids the marriage, and she yells that she loves George to distraction and will marry him next month. He kisses her again, and then she falls on the bed (and oh, hey, they cut about five seconds out from the UK edit where she looks at the bed and tells him, “You would not dare!” and he’s like, “Watch me,” and pushes her on the bed), and he falls on tops of her and kisses her some more, before she starts engaging fully and kissing him back.

Dawn. D is in bed, and wakes to find no Ross. She has murder on her mind.

Trenwith, Elizabeth sleeps while Ross dresses. She wakes up, and Ross tells her that he needs to go before the household wakes. “What should we-” “I must think.” “When will you-” “Soon.” Elizabeth watches him ride off.

In the yard, D is hanging laundry when Ross rides up. Murder is still on her mind, and she turns to look at him. He approaches, and says, “What can I say. It was something I cannot explain.” She glares. “You must see I have no choice.” “Nor I.” She turns away and then BACKHANDS HIM IN THE FUCKING FACE SO HARD HE FALLS DOWN.

I always said throat punching was an option.

RHG: Well. That was a thing. Sarah and I discussed the issue of “did Ross rape Elizabeth, what the fuck is up with that” at some length on the podcast – there’s a transcript as well.  I know that the way the scene happened was a significant change from the book – in the book there’s no consent on the part of Elizabeth at all. Here, she does eventually consent, and there’s a small but significant edit from the UK airing as well. Soooooooo…I validate any and all feelings you might have about this scene, and the show in general, and I admit that I find it complicated.  I know the show runner feels that they made the scene consensual, and I don’t think they actually did.  And for that, I am disappointed. They could have done better, and they did not.

This is a long, dark night of the soul of a season, where Ross continues to spiral down and down and down and somehow still hasn’t found rock bottom.

But, apropos of nothing, I encourage you all to put D’s smile of “lo, I look upon the field in which I grow my fucks, and I find that it is barren” in your arsenal. It scares people. It’s a useful smile.