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When it is announced that an episode has been written by none other than Diana Gabaldon herself, it comes with the expectation that it is going to be special - and this episode certainly did not disappoint! In Herself’s skilled hands, the characters revealed much. Emotions are high - whether tender or angry, fearful or joyful, proud or wounded - and every conversation is weighted with meaning and poignancy. It is a dramatic hour, moving the season skilfully towards its conclusion.
The episode begins with a flashback scene from three years earlier, in London in 1775. John and his brother Hal, are discussing Hal’s medical diagnosis of gout. Hal is not surprised, he says, given his diet, but it does mean that he is not allowed to travel. Unable to go to New York, Hal suggests that John take his place, saying that he could write him a new warrant of commission in an instant. He begins to do so, audibly dictating John’s full name, “John William Bertram Armstrong…” but John tells him to stop. John attempts to change the subject, suggesting a game of billiards, but Hal is not able to stand that long.
The conversation shifts to William and Hal asks why William is yet to receive a commission, given the young man’s eagerness to see action in the colonies. Again, Hal offers to take matters into his own hands, suggesting that William could follow in his cousin Henry’s footsteps. But John says that he will procure William’s commission himself when the time comes. He won’t stop William from joining the army, he adds, but there are other considerations.
“And what might those be?” Hal asks.
“The end of the war, specifically,” John replies, adding that both peace and reconciliation with England are still possible. Hal is not in agreement, as evidenced by his speech in parliament but John presses the matter further, asking whether Hal really wants to have to tell his wife that their sons have perished in a war that could have been stopped.
Undeterred, Hal tells John that America is like a son who has dishonoured his father. If such rebellion goes unpunished, what will become of the other colonies?
John argues that dishonour should not result in the so called “son” being harmed or killed.
“Well, you only have one,” Hal observes, joking that he has often felt like killing one of his on occasion.
“But you haven’t,” John says.
“No, I haven’t. Not yet,” Hal agrees. He wonders aloud whether John is right and whether he should pursue peace.
“But not capitulation,” he hastens to add, getting painfully to his feet. Serious now, he asks John for his word that he will never accept the notion of American independency.
“Never,” John assures him.
The scene then shifts forward to 1778, in Pennsylvania, where one Bertram Armstrong, aka Lord John Grey is doing precisely that - swearing to be true to the United States of America, and to its orders and officers. Despite his strong voice, we briefly see the displeasure on John’s face, before he resumes the manner of his alter ego and the opening credits begin. It is a strong opening, and we are reminded again of John’s character. He will do what he must, for his own survival and the survival of those dear to him, despite the personal suffering or discomfort it might bring.
Meanwhile, Jamie, who is directly responsible for the predicament in which John now finds himself, is replacing a lamp in John’s house, under the watchful eye of Mrs Figg. There is a knock at the door and an officer strides in unannounced, inspecting the house for its kitchen and dining area, before announcing them both as suitable.
Mrs Figg is incensed by the man’s lack of manners.
“I don’t care who is winning this infernal war,” she says, “This is still His Lordship’s house as far as I’m concerned and we have standards to uphold.”
Jamie introduces himself as General Fraser and explains the house belongs to John and that John had “departed” when the city fell out of Loyalist hands.
The officer apologises, and bowing, introduces himself as Lieutenant Beautyman. He has been sent by General Washington to survey the condition of properties in the city, in search of a venue for Washington to meet with his generals over dinner before rejoining the army. Beautyman tells Jamie that he is one of the said generals and adds that Jamie won’t have to travel far, as the dinner will now be held in Lord John’s house that very evening. Upon hearing this news, Mrs Figg remarks that she hopes that Beautyman will feel at home in the kitchen, as she will be enlisting his help, adding that she has an apron that will suit him just fine.
While Ian has begun his work as a scout and is hidden in the bushes surveying the British camp, Claire is at the market. Not watching where she is going, she collides with a French speaking officer. He turns out to be none other than Marquis Lafayette and Claire smiles at meeting another historical figure in American history, long before he becomes famous. Strangely, Lafayette tells Claire that he will send her a cheese as payment for stepping on her foot. When Claire appears confused, he tells her that he has brought some fine cheeses with him from France, as well as wines and other preserved food. Claire comments that it is he who should be catering Washington’s dinner and once Lafayette realises that the venue is none other than Lord John’s , he resolves to bring the cheese with him that very evening.
True to his word, Lafayette arrives at the house with various culinary delights, and insists that Claire try the jellied eels. He also invites her to call him “Gilbert”, as those who love him do. Washington himself is one of this number, who refers to Lafayette as being like a son. Lafayette tells them of a time when he had been injured and Washington slept next to him on the ground.
One of the other generals, General Lee, quips that had Washington been paying more attention at the time, they may not have lost control of Philadelphia. Lafayette is quick to retort that the city has since been regained. Jamie intervenes before Lee and Lafayette begin an argument, suggesting that they look instead at the battles ahead of them. While Claire valiantly tries the eels, Jamie informs the men that he has news of the loyalists who left Philadelphia and that they are continuing to march north to New York, but without the army. Ian’s reconnaissance has found Clinton’s camp in New Jersey.
“It would seem that at least part of the British army is much closer than we thought,” Jamie says.
Lafayette is keen to know Claire’s opinion of the eels, which she declares to be delicious, although it obvious that she thinks no such thing! The conversation is interrupted by a man who has brought a note for Lafayette. Lafayette reads it and then introduces its bearer as one of his aides-de-camp, Mr Percival Beauchamp. Claire explains that Beauchamp is her own family name and wonders aloud if they could be relatives. Percival says that while he would love to claim kinship with her, his family hail from a different region in France.
Clinking his glass, it is time for Washington to make a speech. He tells them that battle is close upon them. He thanks Jamie and Claire for the fine meal and, before he leaves, presents them with a keepsake in honour of their hospitality. It is a flag, which Claire says they will treasure. Raising his glass, Jamie makes a toast to the United States of America and they all echo.
Unable to resist asking a historical question, Claire asks whether it is true that a six pointed star had originally been planned for the flag. Washington confirms this, but that Mrs Betsy Ross had informed him that a five pointed star would be easier to embroider.
“A nation without a flag is like a furnace without a fire,” Claire quotes.
“Exactly,” Washington says. “What is a flag but a piece of cloth, and yet it stands for something. What are we but mere mortals and yet we stand for something. What does a man see when he looks at the stars and stripes?”
“That he’s not alone,” Jamie answers, “and we dare to hope.”
With these words. we understand further Jamie’s dedication to this cause. It may not have a war cry of “Tullach Ard”, but the sentiment is similar. They are fighting for an independent identity, drawing strength from a symbolic flag that unites them. To a chorus of “hear hear” around the table, Washington stands and proposes another toast: to victory.
Just as the evening appears to be over and Washington takes his leave, General Lee has other ideas. He informs Jamie that since Jamie’s companies are under his command, the two of them should discuss tactics. Reluctantly, Jamie agrees. Meanwhile, Lafayette takes his leave of Claire, handing her a cheese, as promised!
In the 20th century, Brianna returns to Lallybroch to meet the locksmith. Instead, she sees a note on the door saying that they had missed her and would reschedule. She drives away, frustrated.
Ian arrives home, and Rachel wakes as he enters the room. Full of newlywed affection, they discuss Ian’s day. Ian assures her that he has been quite safe. Rachel flirtatiously tells him that she had hoped to patch him up and Ian replies by saying he was scratched by a tree. Telling him that she doesn’t want to sleep, or for him to take time to wash, Rachel demands that he show her his scratch. The flirtation quickly progresses to lovemaking and the scene ends.
Claire is eating the cheese when Jamie reappears and reveals that Lee is jealous of Washington’s leadership, feeling it should be him that is in charge. Lee has fought in several countries, Jamie says, whereas Washington has only fought in America. Claire tells Jamie that she had never heard of Lee, whereas Lafayette will go down in history for bringing troops from France that help win the battle.
As they eat the excellent cheese, Jamie talks of his officers and staff, which amount to ten companies of militia under his command. Claire tells him how impressive this is and muses that maybe Brianna will find him in the history books, something that Jamie says isn’t always a good thing. He is troubled by the fact that he has 300 souls in his hands and adds he has never led more than 50, nor lead people he hasn’t known. But all he needs, he tells her, is to have her by him - and some cheese!
William has arrived at the British camp, and reports to the officer, with a dispatch from General Clinton. But the officer in charge is not impressed by William’s slightly dishevelled appearance, and unwittingly delivers the ultimate insult - telling William that he looks like a groom from one of his father’s estates. William explains that his gorget has been lost, and says that he is no groom. The officer reads the missive before penning a response while William waits. Sealing the reply, he hands it to William, telling him to clean himself up before presenting himself to anyone else.
In his tent, William angrily tries to clean his coat and change his shirt. Swearing in Latin, he turns around to see Jane and another girl standing behind him, giggling. He asks Jane what she is doing there, and who the young girl is. Jane introduces the girl as her sister, Frances Pocock, adding that they had been told that this was his tent. Frances curtseys to William, which improves his mood a little and he bows in response.
Jane says that they had gambled on the fact that they would find him where the British were encamped. Also speaking in Latin, she tells him that fortune favours the bold. William is surprised that she knows Latin.
“There’s a great deal you don’t know about me, Sir,” she responds. She tells William that they have come because Captain Harkness had returned and Fanny adds that they have run away as a result. William can’t understand why they hadn’t stayed safe in Philadelphia, given that Harkness is with the army. Jane tells him that she wanted to return his gorget, that he had previously used to “buy” her to keep her safe from Harkness’ clutches. He thanks her, as Jane explains that they need his protection.
“I don’t think I should have any difficulty making a living from the army,” she tells William, “but it’s not what I want for my sister.”
William understands, and asks her what else she had in mind, to which Jane responds that she hasn’t yet decided, only that she needs William to help them go somewhere where Harkness won’t be. As they look meaningfully into each other’s eyes, Fanny makes her own plea, saying that Jane has told her that he is a good man.
Brianna gets out of the car and takes a rifle from the boot, which she loads. Hiding in the bushes near the house, she sets up a vigil. Sure enough, she can see lights on inside. Two men appear. She aims the rifle, but is startled by another vehicle. It is Ernie and Fiona returning with the children. Leaving her hiding place, she runs to them, yelling to get back into the van. She fires the rifle at the men, who have come running out of the house, but the van stalls. One of the men tries to grab Brianna but she manages to fight him off and the van splutters into life. Another car appears: it is Rob Cameron. He yells out to one of the men, who he names Callahan. As the lights shine on Callahan’s face, we realise that he looks somewhat familiar…
As they drive away, Brianna asks Fiona why they had returned. Fiona tells them that Rob had been waiting at their house, wanting to question them. They didn’t think the children were safe, Fiona tells her, and she had also been worried for Brianna’s safety.
A much more smartly dressed William has come up with a plan, which he is sharing with Jane and Frances. He is leaving in a few days, delivering dispatches. He will make sure that they get rations as camp followers and ensure that they can travel with him under his protection. In return, he tells Jane, she will be his laundress. This does not go down well with Jane, who tells him that she doesn’t know how to do laundry. He tells her to borrow supplies from the other women, or to buy what she needs. He hands over coins, but Frances reveals that Jane doesn’t know how to handle money. Jane suggests to William that they come up with something more reasonable, taking his hand and squeezing it.
William takes her into the tent, where he asks her why she can’t use money. Jane replies that she has never had any. She knows the name of the coins, she tells him, and what they can be used for in a brothel, illustrating her point further by listing the monetary value of various parts of her body.
“If someone gave me three shillings, I wouldn’t know if you could buy a loaf of bread or a horse with them,” she tells him. She earns wages, but she never sees them, because they are spent on her upkeep. She returns the coins to his hand.
William tells her to stay with the laundresses, away from the soldiers until he can find her more modest clothing. She is not a whore, he tells her, while she is under his protection.
Jamie is inspecting his men. It is a scene reminiscent of earlier seasons, when he was training his men before the Rising. Similarly, these men are inexperienced. One of them, Abraham Shaftstall, is chided by one of Jamie’s officers for having a crooked hat. Jamie says that a crooked hat will not stop a musket ball, but being prepared will. He asks Shaftstall what weapons he has. The answer is a pistol, a hunting knife, an axe and a snare for rabbits. Smiling, Jamie orders a musket which he hands to Shaftstall, telling him to keep the snare, so that he doesn’t waste the ammunition on the rabbits. Like he did before Culloden, Jamie is immediately earning the respect of the men in his care.
Claire is in the medical tent, assessing the health of the men. One of them arrives coughing, which he has had for three months. In short order, she diagnoses consumption and sends him to the hospital tent to be discharged from service. But the next patient is none other than John Grey. She asks what he is doing there and John replies that she wouldn’t believe him if he told her. Claire calls Jamie over and the tension between the two men is immediately apparent.
“I surrender,” John says. “I surrender to you personally, General Fraser.”
Now a prisoner in his own home, John looks with disdain at the American flag on display. Claire wants to examine his eye.
“I gather you know what happened to it?” John asks.
Claire confirms that she does and tells him how sorry she is.
“Is your husband sorry?” he asks.
“No, I don’t think so,” she replies.
John comments that he imagined that he would be Jamie’s prisoner, and in his own home, no less. Claire asks how he has come to be in a militia with Continental soldiers, given that Denzell had told them he had escaped.
“I did, the first time,” he says.
Claire examines his eye, asking him to look up, but John explains that he can’t, comparing his eye to a hard boiled egg. Claire tells him that he has fractured the orbit and a muscle has become trapped in the crack.
Footsteps announce Jamie’s arrival and he asks Claire if she can help John. She is determined to try and asks Jamie if he has to return to his men. Jamie is not immediately needed and comments that he should send John to Washington for questioning, but that John could be hanged as a result.
“What the devil were you thinking?” he hisses at John.
John wastes no time in letting Jamie know that he is to blame. Jamie had left him in the hands of an American militia, from which he had escaped, only to be captured by another. He had had to swear an oath of allegiance to avoid being hanged on the spot.
“So here we are,” he says angrily.
“Aye, here we are,” Jamie echoes.
This is brilliant acting by both Sam Heughan and David Berry, highlighting that John’s fractured eye socket is not the only serious injury here. The friendship between the two men has been fractured also.
Claire is preparing to treat John’s eye, setting aside honey for afterwards. She instructs Jamie to hold John down, as she grasps his eyeball and turn it to free the trapped muscle.
“I’m sorry, John, but there’s no other way,’ she says. She gets to work, to the sound of John’s groans of pain.
William is unable to sleep, when Jane appears in his tent and wastes no time in taking off her shift and climbing on top of him. But William rejects her advances, repeating that she is not a whore and not his whore. Jane calls him a coward and William replies by kissing her. Still, he refuses to go further and she leaves the tent.
Ian is sitting by the fire, speaking to the spirit of his father. He says aloud that he hopes old Ian hasn’t come with bad news. Rachel enters the room and asks who he is talking to. Ian tells her, and wonders if this is a warning that he will die in battle.
“But you came in,” he says, “and I take that as a very good sign.”
He is preparing to put on his warpaint, so that he feels ready. Rachel asks whether he does so alone, as it must be difficult. Ian tells her that sometimes the clan brothers would do it together and he invites her to help instead. She is keen to do so, so he asks her to hold the paint, while he draws the symbol of a bird above his heart. It is a dove.
“My uncle says the dead stand at your back when you go into battle, but you carry your woman with you. This is you, my dove,” he says.
Ernie’s van stalls again, and he swears. As Brianna reassures the children, Ernie tells her that he knows Roger is in Boston, and that perhaps she and the children should go and join him for safety. Brianna and Fiona share a look, before Brianna suggests trying to fix the van.
Outside, Brianna apologises to Fiona for dragging them into the trouble. Fiona says that they will go and stay with Ernie’s sister for a few days and that Brianna should call the police. But Brianna has no faith in the police. She has a new plan. As she asks Ernie to try the engine, Brianna shares the plan: it is time for she and the children to follow Ernie’s advice.
A now modestly dressed Jane pushes William’s laundry into his hands and tells him that they are even. She and Frances are leaving for New York, she tells him. William protests saying that they have no money or horse.
“I promised I’d see you to New York myself,” he tells her. “And I will.”
“Then we must leave now,” she retorts.
William asks if their flight is because of Captain Harkness, adding that he knows she stole the gorget back.
“What else did you do? No one will find out. I swear it.”
Frances and Jane look at each other.
“You’d best tell him, Janey,” Frances says.
 |
And so Jane explains. Harkness had returned, wanting Fanny’s maidenhead for twenty pounds. Jane had asked for the two of them to be sent up together, ostensibly to keep her younger sister from making a fuss. She knew that Harkness would have toyed with Frances, and hurt her badly. She had taken a knife from the kitchen, intending to stab her in the back, but Frances’ face had given them away. Harkness had turned quickly and Jane had stabbed him in the throat.
William asked how that had gotten away. Fanny’s screams had been misinterpreted, Jane says, since everyone had known what Harkness was planning to do to her. He had bolted the door, so they escaped out of a window, and rode on a farmer’s wagon.
“If you knew he’d come back, why didn’t you escape before he came?” William asks.
“I wanted to kill him,” Jane replies. She asks William if he will turn her over to a magistrate.
William says that he won’t. Frances has heard this and steps forward, taking his hand and kissing it.
“Thank you, William,” she says.
Jane replies that she has nothing else to thank him with and he replies that he doesn’t need thanks, asking only that she doesn’t leave.
Jamie’s militia have been training hard. Jamie’s lieutenant comments that they will be ready to fight. Jamie insists that the training continue, so that they will also be ready to come home. He acknowledges Shaftstall as the other man marches proudly past him.
Meanwhile, William is being given another chance to earn his officer’s trust. A correspondence for Oberst Von Schnell, a Hessian encamped at Spotwood, needs delivering. Success in the coming battle depends on it, William is told. He insists he will not fail again and holds his hand out for the message.
John’s eye is improving and he has regained movement, for which he thanks Claire. She tells him that Jamie’s troops are being mustered and they have to join the rest of the army. John is to remain behind, under guard, a prisoner in his home. There is no possibility of his exchange before the battle, she explains, apologising once more.
Mrs Figg enters, announcing a visitor. It is Percival Beauchamp, who has come with a private message for John. It is obvious that the two men know one another and Claire is curious. What could the personal matter be?
“He’s my stepbrother,” John tells her, “or was. I gather you’ve already met?”
Claire confirms that she had indeed met Percival at dinner and John asks for a moment alone, which she readily grants, adding that she won’t be far away, should he need her.
Left alone, John queries Percival’s name. He explains that he has acquired the name by marriage, prompting John to ask who precisely Percival is sleeping with: the baron, or the sister.
Percival replies that the answer is both, on occasion. John asks why he has come, since the last he had heard, Percival was in France. Percival adds that he has been there ever since John helped him. He explains that he is now an aide to Lafayette and hears things. He asks John if he remembers a Captain Richardson.
John does. Richardson had previous sent William into the Great Dismal in Virginia with the intention that he be captured, branded a deserter and thus discrediting John’s family, especially Hal, as payback for the inflammatory speeches he had been making in the House of Lords about the war.
“You’re saying that Richardson is a turncoat and a spy?” John asks.
“Yes, and he’s at it again.”
Percival tells John that Richardson has now sent William to a gang of Hessians encamped at Spotswood, with a cipher that instructs the men to take William prisoner and hold him captive. It is not politics, now, Percival says, but abduction and possible torture, with the intent of demanding John and Hal’s cooperation, in exchange for William’s life.
John is overcome and Percival meaningfully puts a hand on John’s shoulder.
“Why are you helping me?” John asks.
“For your beautiful eyes,” Percival replies in French.
This of course hints at a previous liaison, and he goes further, stroking John’s face.
“Who hurt you, John?” he asks.
But John is not charmed. He pushes off Percival’s hand. “A man who had a right to touch me,” he says.
Percival nods sadly. “Goodbye John,” he says, “and good luck.”
Moments later, John is telling the man who had a right to touch him - Jamie - the news he has just received. He also reveals Percival’s real name, Perseverance Wainwright, and adds that he is as English as John is.
“He’s been employed as a French spy ever since I helped him flee a British prison some 20 years ago and deceived people into believing he was dead. And as I said, he’s my stepbrother,” John tells Jamie and Claire.
Jamie asks if John believes that William is truly in danger and John replies that he does. Claire adds that Percival is right about Richardson being a spy, revealing that he had admitted as much to Claire at the dance, wanting her to spy on John, which she had refused. John asks why she hadn’t bothered to tell him.
“I’m sorry, John, but he and I were on the same side,” she replies, “If I had known he had wanted to harm William…”
But Jamie cuts her off. He has 300 men under his command, he says, about to march into battle. He cannot leave 300 souls for the sake of one, even if that one happens to be his son.
“299,” John replies. “You have 299 souls and one prisoner, whom you could parole and set free.”
And so Jamie entrusts John into Ian’s care. He tells Ian that if anyone asks, he is to say that John is a prisoner who he is minding for Lafayette. He hands Ian two pistols and the young man nods, understanding what he has been asked to do.
John holds his shackled hands up in front of Jamie and comments that he is getting used to wearing irons.
“Ye dinna get used to it, believe me,’ Jamie replies harshly, before adding “Go. Save our son.”
John and Ian ride away, with John and Jamie sharing another look as they do so. The tension is palpable.
William arrives at the Hessian camp and hands over his message to Oberst von Schnell.
“From Captain Richardson, Sir,” he says.
Von Schnell thanks him, offering William coffee before he leaves. William accepts and Von Schnell takes out the paper that reveals the coded message. After reading it, he turns to the unsuspecting William.
“You’ve come a long way,” he says. “Stay for supper.”
The screen fades to black and we can only hope that John and Ian will arrive in time.
This was an episode that did much: enhanced characters, explained motivations and hinted at dramas to come. It is going to be a thrilling finale!
This recap was written by Susie Brown, a writer and teacher-librarian who lives in Australia. While she knew the rift between Jamie and John was coming, and is awe of the acting as it is played out, she wishes the two men could reconcile!
