Prologue: The episode opens on a brooding Scottish highlands scene, with storm clouds in the distance. Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe), as a voice-over, muses "People disappear all the time. Young girls run away from home, children stray from their parents and are never seen again. Housewives take the grocery money and a taxi to the train station. Most are found, eventually. Diappearances, after all, have explanations -- usually." As Claire strolls down the street in post-World War II Inverness, she stops to gaze in the window of Farrell's General Store. Spotting a display of vases, the voice-over continues, realizing that she has never lived in a place long enough to need a vase, and her yearning for that kind of stability. "It was a Tuesday afternoon, six months after the end of the war . . ."
Flashback to Claire as a World War II battle nurse, struggling to stop the bleeding of a wounded soldier (Jack Eyers) in a makeshift medical ward in a bombed-out alley. A doctor (David Elliot) dashes over and takes over, and she stumbles out of the ward, exhausted. She becomes aware of car horns and a gathering of excited soldiers, laughing, crying and hugging each other. Another nurse (Clare Yuille) dashes up, excitedly presses an opened bottle of champagne into Claire's hands, and tells Claire that the war is over. Claire watches the growing celebration silently, and takes a swig of the champagne.
Back to Inverness, six months later, as she's looking at the vase in the window... "Somehow in my mind, V-E Day, the end of the bloodiest and most terrible war in human history, grows fainter with each passing day. But I can still recall every detail of the day when I saw the life I wanted sitting in a window. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I'd bought that vase and made a home for it. Would that have changed things? Would I have been happy? Who can say? I do know this: even now, after all the pain and death and heartbreak that followed, I still would make the same choice."
* Credits *
Claire and her husband, Frank Randall (Tobias Menzies) are riding in a convertible along a deserted Scottish road, the wind in their hair, the sun shining, enjoying a second honeymoon six months after the war. The radio is playing bright 1940's music, and the voice-over continues to narrate that she and Frank chose to take a trip to the Scottish highlands to reconnect after being apart for five years. Parking the car on the street, Frank notices a red smear across an otherwise pristine door, and brings it to Claire's attention. She is startled to see blood, and when Frank is doubtful that it might be blood, she reminds him that, after being a nurse, she knows what blood looks like. They notice that several doors on the street have the same blood streaks, and Claire wonders if the houses are marked for a mystical reason. Frank reminds her that there is no where else on earth where paganism and mysticism are such a part of everyday life as the Scottish highlands.
They enter their bed and breakfast, and the propriotress, Mrs. Baird (Kathryn Howden), explains that the blood comes from a black cockerel, and that it is the custom at that time of year to make a sacrifice to honor St. Odhran [whose feast day is October 27th]. Frank recognizes the name, to Mrs. Baird's surprise, and Claire explains that Frank is a historian, who will be taking up a teaching post at Oxford in two weeks. Frank goes on to explain that Odhran was buried alive voluntarily, and Claire grimaces. Mrs. Baird tells them it's a good time for a holiday, since it is close to Samhain, which Claire recognizes as Gaelic for Halloween. Frank explains that the church borrowed several of the pagan holidays. Mrs. Baird warns them that the holidays brings out ghosts, who wander about doing "good or ill as they please," to Claire's amusement.
As they check into their room, Claire thinks about how much trouble they have had getting to know each other again after the war. He takes an experimental bounce on the squeaky bed, and wryly observes that there will be no "marital privacy," and that Mrs. Baird will probably be able to hear "any renewed attempts to start a family." Claire smiles, and Frank reaches for a book. Claire teases him about not "adding another branch to his family tree unless he shows more industry", and begins to bounce on the bed, making it squeak suggestively. Frank joins her as they playfully bounce, making Mrs. Baird downstairs look up at a slightly swinging chandalier speculatively. The teasing play becomes tender as they tell each other what they remembered of the other during stressful times in the war -- Claire remembers the sound of Frank's laugh, and Frank remembers that he would sketch Claire's hand because he remembered it so clearly. They kiss, and gradually they undress -- and the bed begins to squeak again, more softly. Mrs. Baird, downstairs, smiles to herself.
The next day, during a drive, Frank points to an unusual rock formation on a nearby hill, and tells Claire that it is Cocknammon Rock, a place that the British used to use for ambushes in the 17th and 18th centuries. Claire glances at it with passing interest, smiling at Frank's absorption in history. She reflects that she is used to history, being raised by her archeologist uncle after the death of her parents, with a flashback to a young Claire (Elizabeth Bowie) at her Uncle Lamb's (Prentis Hancock) dig, lighting an unladylike cigarette for her uncle and admiring his work. As they stroll around the grounds of a castle ruin, Claire explains that Frank has become interested in his personal genealogy, and she has become interested in botany and medicinal plants. She examines plants while Frank takes a photo of Castle Leoch, the ancestral home of Clan MacKenzie, and realizes that Frank is pursuing his interest in the past to help him forget his job as an intelligence officer during the war. Frank comments that a distant ancestor of his, a British officer, worked in that area and may have actually visited the castle at some point. They continue to explore the castle, delving deeper into dusty, overgrown rooms. Claire sits provocatively on a table and gives Frank a "look." Frank observes mildly that it's a bit dirty, and Claire, raising her skirt invitingly, tells him that he can give her a bath. He comes over to her, and as his hand traces the line of her thigh upwards, he discovers that "Why, Mrs. Randall, I do believe you've left your undergarments at home," and proceeds to take advantage of the opportunity.
That afternoon, while Claire is browsing through a book by the fire, Reverend Wakefield (James Fleet) and Frank are excited they have found evidence of his distant relative, British Captain Jonathan Wolverton Randall of the Dragoons, otherwise known as "Black Jack." The Reverend points out that Captain Randall spent a lot of time harassing the Scottish countryside. Claire comments that the Scottish still seem suspicious of the English, and remembers that the evening before, the barman at the pub called them "Sassenachs." Reverend Wakefield explains that she shouldn't be offended, it's simply their word for and Englishman, "or, at worst, an outlander." The housekeeper, Mrs. Graham (Tracey Wilkinson), brings tea, and invites Claire into the kitchen to join her. Claire drinks her oolong tea appreciatively, and Mrs. Graham tells her that she can read tea leaves. As Claire finishes her tea, Mrs.Graham begins to read the leaves, but is confused -- signs of a journey, but also staying in one place and several strangers. She takes Claire's hand to read her palm, and tells Claire that she has an unusual pattern, and has a pronounced Mount of Venus, which, "to be polite about it, means that your husband won't stray far from your bed," she says, laughing. But her life line is interrupted, divided, not broken.
Claire is skeptical, but thoughtful. The Reverend and Frank join them in the kitchen, speculating on whether Black Jack Randall had a secret patron that kept him out of trouble -- the Duke of Sandringham, a suspected Jacobite. As they warm to their topic and jiggle the team tray, Mrs. Graham scolds them and rescues the tray, and Claire take the opportunity to return to the bed and breakfast. As she walks back, she passes the store to gaze at the vases, and then hurries on, reflecting that what she didn't know that "tomorrow would prove less important than yesterday." Later, in front of a mirror, she attempts to brush out her wayward hair, muttering "Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ!" impatiently at the tangles. As Frank is walking up to the building that night, in the wind and rain, he catches a glimpse of her in the window, at the mirror brushing her hair, and smiles. The smile disappears as he notices a figure in a kilt by the lamppost, head tilted up to also gaze at Claire. Frowning, he appraoches the figure from behind and asks if he can help him. The figure turns away quickly, and suddenly Frank is alone, looking around, wondering what just happened.
As he hurries into the room, Claire is startled, commenting that he looks like he's seen a ghost. "You know, I'm not so sure I haven't," he says, staring out the window. Later, in front of the fire, Frank tells Claire about the figure disappearing, almost as if it were a ghost. Claire scoffs, but then Frank leads the conversation into patients that she had during the war, and wonders of any of them might have been Scottish, and might want to . . . reconnect. Claire realizes that Frank is delicately inquiring if she has been unfaithful, and is offended. Frank hastily assures her that if she had, it wouldn't matter, it's not unusual to want a little comfort, because he loves her, and nothing she could ever do could stop his love. She denies it angrily. He begs her to forgive him, and as their kiss deepens and they make love, Claire's voice-over reflects that they often used sex as a bridge to find their way back to each other, despite the obstacles they may encounter during the day. As they lay together in bed afterwards, Frank remembers that he wants to set the alarm. Claire lazily protests and reminds him that they had decided "no alarms", but Frank tells her that he wants to see the witches. At Claire's surprise, he explains that there is a group of Druids that observes ancient rituals at a group of standing stones called Craigh na Dun just outside the village, and he wants to go watch them secretly.
Later, before dawn, Frank and Claire make their way up the hillside as Frank explains that the local legends have the stones being brought from Africa by a race of Celtic giants. "I wasn't aware that the Celts made a lot of trips to Africa," Claire responds, amused. They hide in the tall grass as they hear someone coming. A group of women, holding lanterns and wearing white robes, approach the stones, swaying gracefuly and begin to dance. Claire recognizes Mrs. Graham as one of the dancers, and experiences a feeling of being an intruder, watching something that she shouldn't be seeing. As the run rises, the dancing changes imperceptibly, and ends with lanterns raised towards a large center stone. The lanterns are extinguished and the spell is broken. Chatting brightly, the dancers leave, leaving the mist swirling in the dawn. Frank and Claire examine the standing stones, but hurry to hide as one of the dancers return, searching the ground and finding a hair ribbon. As the dancer sits down to rest, Frank and Claire quietly leave.
In the afternoon, Frank is preparing for another meeting with the Reverend, and Claire is considering returning to the standing stones to retrieve a flower she can't identify from her botany books. They kiss goodbye, with plans to meet later for dinner. Back at the stones, Claire wraps a shawl around her simple white dress as she parks the car and makes her way back up the hill. She returns to the flower, and reaches to pick one -- and becomes aware of a noise like a rumbling, or distant voices. The sounds seem to come the large center stone and, cautious but curious, she approaches it, laying her hands on the surface of the stone.
She describes a sensation similar to an evening car accident she had been in, a sensation of free-falling in the dark at high speed. Regaining consciousness, she finds herself lying on the ground in front of the stone. She scrambles up and hurries away towards the car -- but the road is no longer there, much less a car. Confused, she begins to walk, aware of indefinable changes in the landscape.
Suddenly, she hears a gunshot. A few dozen yards away, she sees soldiers in red coats firing and running. Startled, she thinks that she has stumbled on the set of a historical drama, and watches in fascination as another group of men in kilts come dashing past. She is more deeply confused when she realizes that the "actors" are using live shot. She trips and falls in her hurry to get away from the group, and as she watches incredulously, one of the soldiers points his gun in her directions and shoots. She flings herself to the ground, gasping, and tries to evade them, and suddenly comes upon a British officer by a stream. She slides to a halt, staring at the officer -- he could be Frank's twin. "Frank? What the devil are you doing?" she says, incredulously. The man straightens, regarding her speculatively. "You're not Frank," she whispers, backing away. He introduces himself as Jonathan Randall, Esquire, captain of His Majesty's Eighth Dragoons (Tobias Menzies), "at your service," as he examines her in surprise. She turns away from him and begins to run, but he easily captures her with a well-placed sword block. She declares that her husband is waiting for her, and when he asks her husband's name, she tells him that it is "Frank Beauchamp, he's a teacher," but Captain Randall is skeptical and threatens her to tell him who she really is. She spits in his face and tells him in no uncertain terms to "take you hands off me, you bastard." "Ah, the speech of a lady, the language of a whore. I choose the whore," he declares as he brutally shoves her up against the the small cliff and prepares to rape her. Suddenly, Randall falls away, and Claire, spinning around, sees a man in a kilt with a hat pulled low striking Captain Randall unconscious. The man says something to her urgently in Gaelic, his hand outstretched, but she doesn't understand. He gestures again, insistently, and she goes with him reluctantly, exclaiming "Who are you? Where are we going?" The Scotsman tries to hush her when he spots more British soldiers, but Claire begins to cry out in fear. Exasperated, the Scotsman takes his knife and strikes her at the base of her head with the handle, knocking her unconscious to quiet her.
She regains consciousness as her erstwhile rescuer (Murtagh - Duncan Lacroix) is riding towards a small thatched cottage, thinking that it may have been a dream, but realizing from the stench of man and horse that it is no dream. He leads her into the dimly lit cottage, where they join a group of Scotsmen, including Rupert (Grant O'Rourke) and Angus Mhor (Stephen Walters). Startled, they ask her rescuer questions in Gaelic, but she recognizes a few words -- "Sassenach", "Craigh na Dun." A man sitting near the fire stands up and walks up to Claire as the others draw back -- this is obviously the leader. He brings her closer to the fire to observe her, and in a bit of bravado, Claire lifts her chin and snaps, "I trust you can see me now?" She continues to use the name Claire Beauchamp, afraid that the men will try to ransom her and not wanting to lead them to Frank and possibly hurting him, too. He questions her rescuer, who tells the story of Claire "having words with a certain Captain of Dragoons of our acquaintance. There seemed to be some question whether the lady was or was not a whore." "And what was the lady's position in this discussion?" the leader inquires. Claire looks him in the eye and declares "I am not." The men smile and one jokes that they should put her to the test, but the leader stills their laughter with a stern, "I don't hold with rape . . . and we don't have time for it, anway."
Claire isn't sure what to make of this reprieve, but realizes that she is now their prisoner. Her rescuer tells the leader, Dougal (Graham McTavish), that he doesn't think she's a whore, but Dougal dismisses the question abruptly as she wonders how to escape and return to Inverness.
They are in a hurry to leave, but one of them is injured. A young man, Jamie (Sam Heughan), is seated huddled by the fire in obvious pain, his shoulder dislocated. Dougal asks Jamie if he can ride with his shoulder injured, but Jamie doesn't think he can manage a horse. One of the men declares that he will have to force the joint back, and they prepare to work on Jamie's arm. One grabs his arm clumsily and Claire, her nurse's training coming to the fore as she sees what they intend to do, suddenly says sharply, "Don't you dare! You'll break his arm if you do it like that!" Dougal steps aside in silent invitation for her take a turn. The men watch, wincing, as she grasps his arm. He gasps, and she reassures him that "this is the worst part," then gives the arm a deft twist as it snaps back into place with an audible pop. Jamie takes a deep, surprised breath and declares that it no longer hurts, but laire isn't finished. Turning to one of the men, she demands something to make a sling, either belt or some cloth. The man looks at her in surprise, but Dougal gruffly tells him to comply, and the man reluctantly hands her his belt. As she quickly makes a sling, Jamie observes that she's done this before, and she tells him that she's a nurse. His eyes quickly flit to her chest. "Not a wet nurse," she snaps, as she gives him instructions to care for it. Jamie thanks her and they prepare to leave. As they walk outside, Claire looks out across the valley expecting to see the lights of the town and, puzzled, and asks where Inverness is in the darkness. Jamie looks at her in surprise, points into the darkness and says, "You're looking right at it." Claire is starting to understand what has happened to her - there are no electric lights as far as the eye could see.
Dougal lifts her up to ride with Jamie, with threats against trying to escape. It's raining again, and Claire is shivering in her thin dress. Jamie drapes his plaid around them both, "because you're shaking so hard it's making my teeth rattle," he teases her. Jamie mentions that they will probably be riding all night, and the next one, too, as Claire looks around in dismay. The group moves off, making its way through the forest. The next day, they are riding past a familiar looking rock formation -- Cocknammon Rock. She tells Jamie that the British uses it for ambushes and Jamie, looking around, agrees that it's a good place for an ambush, and rides ahead to warn Dougal. Dougal is suspicious and wants to know how she knows about an ambush, and she tells him that she heard it in the village. Suddenly, Dougal becomes aware of a movement in the brush, and snaps out a order -- Jamie promptly pushes Claire off the horse into the bushes with a battle cry, "Tulach ard!" and the group gallops away, pursued by ambushers. She tries to flee, but is quickly intercepted by a bloodied Jamie, who is intent on bringing her back with him. He tells her that if she won't walk, he'll toss her over his shoulder and carry her. Unwilling to injure his shoulder further, she gives up and goes with him. She scolds him for using his shoulder, and he tells her that if he hadn't moved his shoulder, "I wouldn't be moving anything else ever again." He boasts a bit about being able to handle a couple of Redcoats, "but not three," and then adds cheerfully that if it's hurt again, she can fix it later. "That's what you think," she tells him. As they join the others, they racously thank her for tipping them off "and giving us a wee bit of fun!" They offer her a sip of their whiskey, and she reluctantly takes it, after Jamie whispers that it will warm her up.
Later, as the horses pick their way through the moonlit night, Claire becomes aware that Jamie is sagging in the saddle. Just as he begins to fall, she cries out, "Stop! Help, he's going over!" The group halts, and she quickly examines the unconscious Jamie's shoulder, discovering a clean gunshot wound. She declares that she must disinfect it to protect it from germs, but the group doesn't understand what she means. She asks for "iodine? Methiolate?" Blank looks. "Alcohol?" she demands, in exasperation. Relieved to understand one of her demands, they thrust a flask at her, and she pours alcohol on the wound, trying to clean it. Jamie jerks into consciousness. She scolds him for reinjuring his shoulder, and turns to demand clean bandages. More blank looks, and, muttering her favorite oath, "Jesus H. Roosevelt Chirst!", she bends to rip the hem of her dress for a bandage. As she tries to tie the bandage on, she lets loose with another exasperated curse at the slipping bandage, "you bloody bastard!". The men mutter disapprovingly, Dougal declaring he has never heard a woman use such language, and Angus suggests that her husband should tan her hide. Rupert intones that "Saint Paul says 'Let a woman be silent,'" but Claire is out of patience and snaps, "You can mind your own bloody business, and so can Saint Paul!" The men, shocked, are silent. She turns to Jamie and threatens to throttle him if he moves. He grins. "Threats, is it? And after I shared my drink with you?" Dougal tells Claire they have five to seven more hours to ride, and they can't stay there much longer. When she protests, Jamie explains that Captain Randall has probably sent out patrols, she asks if he knows Black Jack Randall. After a moments hesitation, he admits that he knows him, and if she can't fix him up well enough to ride, then they should leave him there with a loaded pistol "so I can determine my own fate." Quiet, she thinks about what he has said and then, more softly, asks why he didn't tell her he had been shot. "It didn't hurt much at the time," he shrugs. She tugs the bandage. "Does it hurt now?" "Aye." She looks him in the eye. "Good." He laughs, and accepting her help to stand, he says, "Thank ye, Sassenach. Truly." Then she says to him, "Well, then, on your horse, soldier."
To her surprise, they are riding towards a looming and intact Castle Leoch, a castle bustling with activity. Confused, she remembers visiting the derelict castle two days before, "but how can I remember something that hasn't happened yet?" she wonders. So far, she had been assaulted, threatened, kidnapped, and nearly raped, and as they enter the castle, she reflects "and somehow, I knew that my journey had only just begun."
S01-E02: Castle Leoch — Directed by John Dahl; Written by Ronald D. Moore
Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and her Scottish captors have arrived home at Castle Leoch, where they are warmly welcomed by the residents. As Claire wonders how to escape back to Inverness, the Master of Horse, Old Alec (Liam Carney), fusses at Rupert to take care of his horse's hooves because of his weight, and the housekeeper, Mrs. FitzGibbons (Annette Badland), hugs members of the party, after teasing Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix that he "looks and smells like a rat that's been dragged through sheep dung." Murtagh takes the teasing good-naturedly, and gives her a kiss on the cheek. As Mrs. FitzGibbons gets a glimpse of Claire, she stops and stares -- Claire is standing in the castle yard wearing her white dress, which is dirty and tattered from her misadventures. Jamie (Sam Heughan) introduces them, and Mrs. FitzGibbons hurries her inside, with promises of food and something to wear "that's more . . . well, more," she finishes, with a shake of her head. Claire protests that Jamie needs medical attention and asks for supplies, and Mrs. FitzGibbons asks her if she's a charmer or a Beaton. "Mrs. Fitz" provides Claire with herbs and bandages and a quiet place by a fire, and Claire begins to tend to Jamie's shoulder.
As she removes Jamie's shirt, she is shocked by the severe scarring on his back. Jamie explains that he has been flogged twice—by Captain Randall (Tobias Menzies). Claire asks why he was flogged, and Jamie explains that the first time, he was escaping Fort William. "Why were you escaping in the first place?" Claire asks, and Jamie grins and replies, "They were holding me prisoner!" When Claire continues to prod for information, Jamie tells her that he had been arrested for obstruction.
Flashback: Jamie explains that Captain Randall and a troop of soldiers came to their home to take supplies such as food for their troops. His father was away at a funeral, and while Jamie was working in the field, he heard his sister, Jenny (Laura Donnelly), screaming. Racing to the house, he discovered Jenny being attacked by two of the soldiers. He begins to fight with the soldiers as Jenny dashes away, but she is intercepted by Captain Randall, who holds a knife to her throat and tells Jamie to stop. Discovering that Jenny is Jamie's sister, Captain Randall becomes more interested in her, and a casual caress turns into tearing off her bodice and exposing her bare-breasted to the soldiers and Jamie. Randall decides to make an example of Jamie, and hangs him up to be whipped, with Jenny tearfully watching. Randall offers to stop the whipping if Jenny will go into the house "and offer him better entertainment." Jamie exhorts Jenny not to give in to Randall, even if Randall kills him. Randall knocks him unconscious and Jamie conclude his story: "And so, she went with him. She thought he'd kill me, and perhaps she was right . . ." He describes being taken to Fort William, "trussed up with the chickens." He stated that, "They were verra poor company."
Claire is sympathetic, and as she continues to tend to Jamie, he tells her that she is a kind woman with a good touch, and that her husband is a lucky man. She turns away abruptly to stare in the fire, and tears up, worrying about what Frank (Tobias Menzies) is going through in the future, looking for her. Jamie questions her softly, and through her tears, she tells him that her husband is not alive. Jamie gives her a comforting hug as she continues to sob, and then she steps back, embarrassed. Jamie tells her not to be afraid because he will protect her, but when Claire asks what she should do if he's not with her, he warns her that, being English, she should be very careful. He tells her to get some sleep -- she's exhausted.
Later, Mrs. Fitz throws open the bedcurtains and cries for Claire to wake up. "You've slept the whole day -- it's nigh five o'clock!" Busily, Mrs. Fitz provides broth by the fire, water for washing, and brings Claire a proper dress. As Claire undresses, Mrs. Fitz is curious about her bra -- "What kind of corset is that?" she inquires. "A brassiere . . it's French . . ." Claire explains awkwardly, and Mrs. Fitz shakes her head and begins to help Claire dress, and when she is tidied up to Mrs. Fitz's satisfaction, she is escorted to meet with Colum MacKenzie, the Laird (Gary Lewis).
As she wanders around his empty office, filled with colorful tapestries and birds in several cages, she sees a letter dated November 1, 1743. She is surprised, and has to hide further surprise when Colum MacKenzie, the laird of Castle Leoch, enters the room on legs that are severely disfigured by what would later be called Toulouse-Lautrec Syndrome, or pycnodysostosis. Still, he is no one's fool, and as he greets Claire politely, he is intensely curious about how she came to be wandering in the woods. She remembers Frank once telling her that during an interrogation, she should stick to the facts as much as possible, so she tells Colum a tale about being accosted by bandits who stole her baggage and she became separated from her manservant and was lost. Colum is skeptical that Randall would simply rape a woman wandering lost in the woods, and apologizes after Claire asks tersely "when is a good time for a rape?" When Claire asks for help returning to Inverness, Colum tells her a tinker by the name of Sean Petry will be there in five days, and she can ride back to Inverness with him. Business concluded, Colum offers her the hospitality of the castle.
Claire is excited at the prospect of returning, and wanders around the castle, observing Dougal (Graham McTavish) playing at swords with a young boy. Later that evening, Claire joins the castle folk for dinner, uncomfortably aware that conversation stops when she enters the room as everyone examines her. She makes her way to the head table and makes a small curtsy to Colum, and is invited to sit at his left at the head table. He introduces her to his wife, Letitia (Aislin McGuckin) and, plying her with several glasses of wine, he continues to question her as to where she is going ("France"), who she knows there, ("No one, family I haven't met yet."). Claire discovers through Dougal and Colum's discussion that Jamie has been sent to work in the stables. Soon, the young boy she saw in the yard with Douglas comes in, and Claire greets him, saying that she had seen him playing with his father. The room grows silent, and then the boy, Hamish (Roddy Gilkison), tells her haughtily that he is the son and heir of Colum MacKenzie, and Claire realizes that she has made a mistake and, pleading tiredness, she excuses herself. As she makes her way to her room, she berates herself for allowing herself to be affected by too much wine, which has muddled her wits.
The next morning, she asks Mrs. Fitz where Jamie is, and is knowingly pointed to the stables. She admires Jamie in the ring training a horse, but distracts the horse, causing it to rear. Jamie is annoyed until he sees the cause of the horse's distraction. They share a lunch in the stable as she tends his bandage, and he tells her that he can't return to his own farm because there's a price on his head, 10 pounds sterling, on a trumped up charge of murder. "You're a very complicated man, Mr. MacTavish," Claire says thoughtfully, and he admits that his real name isn't MacTavish, but since he doesn't want to be turned over to the English, he's been an outlaw for almost four years. When Claire wonders if Colum knows his story, Jamie laughs and tells her that Colum and Dougal are his uncles, on his mother's side, and know the whole story. Claire is surprised that Jamie has told her, and he tells her that he trusts her. Old Alec tells Jamie to get back to work, and as Claire starts back, she realizes that Rupart has been following her. When she objects, he tells her that Dougal has him watching her. Claire confronts Dougal, who tells her that he thinks she is an English spy, and she tells him she hopes enjoying watching her do nothing before she leaves with Mr. Petry.
Waiting to leave, she helps Mrs. Fitz harvest plants. One day, as she is picking mushrooms, she encounters Geillis Duncan (Lotte Verbeck), who teases her that she is picking poisonous mushrooms. Geillis tells her that people in the town think that Claire is an English spy. She goes on to tell Claire that she dabbles in herb for some people, and pointing out herbs that can cause miscarriages, she invites Claire to visit her in the village.
That evening is The Hall, a meeting at the castle where people bring their grievances to Colum for judgement. Geillis helps translate the conversations, and at the end, a young girl is brought before Colum by her father to be punished for loose behavior. Colum agrees, but before the girl can be strapped, Jamie steps forward and offers to take the beating for her. After a spirited argument, Colum agrees to the switch, and the girl, Laoghaire (Nell Hudson), tearfully runs to Mrs. Fitz's arms as Jamie prepares for the beating. Claire is horrified, knowing that Jamie is still injured. Murtagh warns Jamie that Dougal is up to something, and Jamie takes several blows, administered by Rupert (Grant O'Rourke) before the beating is finished. Claire accompanies him back to Mrs. Fitz' fireside, where Mrs. Fitz thanks Jamie for saving her granddaughter from being humiliated, and leaves Claire to treat him.
Claire asks him why he did it. He admits that he barely knows her, but it would have shamed the lass, and it was easier for him -- he's sore, but not badly damaged, and he'll be better in a couple of days. She tells him to take the bandage off in a couple of days, and when he tells her that she can do it for him, she tells him that she will be leaving. He pauses, and then, with good manners, wishes her a safe journey. Claire, noticing Laoghaire peering around the door, smiles and takes her leave, nodding towards the door and observing to Jamie that "someone wants to talk to you alone."
The next morning, as Claire is beginning to leave with the tinker with a basket full of Mrs. Fitz' goodies, she is intercepted by Dougal, who tells her that Colum wants to see her. Protesting that she was just leaving, Dougal shakes his head and tells her that Colum has asked for her, and that settles it. He leads her to a chamber -- which Claire recognizes from her encounter with Frank as they toured the Castle Leoch ruins. Colum tells her that he has discovered that she is a good healer, and that since their last healer, a Beaton (a family famous for their healing talents) died and left behind all his potions and records in this room, he wants her to remain at the castle as their new healer -- and until he can find out who she really is. Angrily, she accuses him of trying to keep her prisoner, to which he responds softly, "Only if you try to leave." He steps out of the infirmary, leaving Claire alone and frightened.
S01-E03: The Way Out — Directed by Brian Kelly; Written by Anne Kenney
A scene from early in World War II: Frank (Tobias Menzies) and Claire (Caitriona Balfe) are both in uniform, hurrying to catch Claire's train as she is shipped to the front. Frank is concerned that he hasn't been able to have Claire's orders changed to keep her from being posted abroad, but Claire is adamant that he shouldn't use his influence, because everyone else is in the same predicament. Frank is frustrated: "This is backwards -- I am the one that should be leaving for the front lines," he grouses as Claire climbs onto the train. A last loving farewell, and a worried Frank implores Claire, "Claire Beauchamp Randall, promise that you'll return to me." Claire smiles, and promises, "I will, Frank Randall, I promise." The train picks up steam, separating the husband and wife.
Flash to Claire in 1743: Mrs. Fitz (Annette Badland is helping Claire bathe, and has just dumped a bucketful of cold water over a gasping Claire's head. Claire protests that she can wash and dress herself, but Mrs. Fitz brushes off her objections. and compliments Claire's skin, "Such beautiful skin you have, I've never seen a woman past 8 or 9 to have skin so unmarked by injury or illness -- your next husband will be a lucky man!" Startled, Claire is overcome by her situation, and tries to confide in Mrs. Fitz that her husband isn't really dead, that she seems to have fallen through time, and that she's from the future. Mrs. Fitz reacts badly, backing warily away from Claire and hysterically accusing her of being a witch.
Flash to Claire, sitting in front of a mirror as Mrs. Fitz is brushing her hair out. We realize that the previous two scenes were Claire's thoughts as she sits quietly in front of the mirror -- remembering Frank, and imagining Mrs. Fitz' reaction if she told her the truth of her situation. Mrs. Fitz is cheerfully chattering about the upcoming Gathering, where hundreds of clansmen will be arriving at the castle in the next few weeks to "plight their oath", and Mrs. Fitz reminds Clare that if she does a good job of "physicking" the ill and injured during the Gathering, she will earn Colum's good will.
In the surgery, Claire goes over notes from the previous healer, realizing how much of the medical "knowledge" is unsound, and trying to determine how to apply twentieth century medical practices in the eighteenth century. Her interest in botany becomes more and more important, as she determines how to use them effectively. She is under constant surveillance by Rupert (Grant O'Rourke) and Angus (Stephen Waters) as she works, but eventually, they drift over to the nearby kitchen to help themselves to the ale. One day, as Claire enters the kitchen, one of the women, obviously distraught, drops a bowl. Mrs. Fitz comforts her and sends her home, and tells Claire that the woman is Colum's chambermaid, Shona MacNeill (Nicola Clark) and that her son died the night before. Claire is surprised no one came to fetch her to help him, but Mrs. Fitz tells her that it wasn't an ordinary sickness -- the boy had been playing around "the black kirk", a deserted Benedictine monastery, and as a result, had been taken over by a demon. "He was a sickly boy on his best day -- he was no match for Ol' Nick" Mrs. Fitz intones, making a fervent sign of the cross. At that moment, Mrs. Fitz' young nephew, Tammas Baxter (Daniel Kerr), comes to fetch Claire to Colum's suite, and tells her that the boy who died was "like a brother to him."
As Claire enters Colum's room, his tailor, >Naill Drummond (David McKay) is finishing the fitting of a new coat. Colum (Gary Lewis) is angered by the tailor's attempt to hide his misshapen legs with a too-long coat, and demands a coat of a proper length. The terrified tailor hastens out, and Colum asks Claire to massage his legs, which are hurting him. As he lays down on a table, he asks if she, too, finds his legs as repellant as the tailor did, but she assures him no, but the massage would be more effective at the base of his spine. Nonchalantly, he flips up the hem of his shirt, exposing his bare bottom, and inquires sarcastically, "Don't tell me my arse offends you, too!" Claire smiles, and gets to work. They chat quietly about the death of his chambermaid's son -- Colum declares it was Satan's work, after the foolish boy went to the black kirk, and then, reflectively, he wonders what he, himself, did to make the devil punish him with his misshapen legs. Claire gives a small "hmph", and Colum inquires, "What, you don't have demons in Glochestershire, Mistress?" "Yes," says Claire with a smile, "but we call them Scots!" Colum grunts in amusement, and, relieved of pain by Claire's ministrations, invites her to the Hall that night as his guest to listen to the Gwyllyn the Bard (Gillebride MacMillan) perform.
That evening, Claire is standing off to the side as the Hall begins to fill. Dougal comes up behind her and compliments her on her work with Colum, observing that Colum seems to feel much better. "Seems like the feral cat we picked up on the road has decided to pull in her claws," he continues. Offended, Claire moves away. Finding herself sitting next to the young girl who narrowly avoided a beating on Claire's first day at Castle Leoch, Claire introduces herself to Laoghaire MacKenzie (Nell Hudson), but Laoghaire's attention is longingly drawn to Jamie's entrance. Claire notices, and gives a little wave at Jamie (Sam Heughan), who sees her and begins to cross the room to join them. "It's not me he fancies," says Laoghaire, softly. Claire smiles and tells her that "men seldom know what is best for them, that's what women are for!" and makes room for Jamie between herself and Laoghaire. Jamie is polite to Laoghaire's attempts at conversation, but it is obvious that he is not focused on her, much to her chagrin. After a few songs, Claire has been sipping Colum's strong Rhienish wine, and Jamie comments that most people are under the table after two glasses. When she asks if he thinks she is intoxicated, he smiles and says, "I'd be surprised if you weren't!" and takes the third glass from her and drinks. Jamie complains that his bandage is chafing and asks Claire to look at it. Hurriedly thrusting the empty glass at a disgruntled Laoghaire, Claire and Jamie leave to visit the surgery. As she asks him about his bandange, he admits that he doesn't need any help, but wanted to see her back to the surgery "while she could still walk upright." Blushing, Claire thanks him, realizing that if he wanted the bandage off, he would have just taken it off himself. She asks him why he didn't ask her to remove it at the stables, and he admits that he didn't want Old Alec (Liam Carney) to see the scars on his back. He tells her that he doesn't mind her seeing the scars, because she has a way of "letting him know that she's sorry for it, but not making her feel pitiful for it." Before he leaves, she examines his bandage, carefully unwinding his stock, and pronounces his wound as almost healed.
The next day, Claire and Geillis (Lotte Verbeck) are gathering herbs, and Geillis tells her that Tammas Baxter has fallen ill, and Father Bain (Tim McInnerny) is going to perform an exorcism. Claire is skeptical that the illness is caused by demons, but Geillis asks her if she doesn't believe in demonic possession. "Do you?" asks Claire. Geillis tells her that she believes that there are "powers beyond our ken, beyond what we can see and hear and touch . . . have you never found yourself in a situation with no earthly explanation?" Claire is convinced that the boy may just be ill, but Geillis warns her that to challenge the belief that the boy is possessed will put her in danger, herself. Undeterred, Claire hurries to Tammas' home, to find Tammas tied to a bed with a frantic Mrs. Fitz in attendence. Examing the boy, Claire begins to think he may have been poisoned, but they are interrupted by Father Bain and Tammas' mother, who is appalled that Mrs. Fitz has let a "stranger" in. Even though Claire entreats her to allow her to help Tammas, she refuses, and Claire eases out the door as Father Bain proceeds with the exorcism.
When she gets back to the castle, Claire observes Jamie kissing Laoghaire in an alcove. At dinner, Claire teases Jamie's over his slightly swollen lips, knowing that he has been kissing Laoghaire. Embarrassed, Jamie leaves the table, but Claire is quietly admonished by Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) that if Laoghaire's father finds out, Jamie may be forced to marry her. "He needs a woman, not a lassie, and Laoghaire will still be a girl when she's 50." Claire feels badly for teasing Jamie, realizing that she is jealous of Jamie and Laoghaire's intimacy and misses that same intimacy with Frank. Wandering outside, she is sitting by herself when Dougal finds her, and offers to take her into town the next day to visit Geillis and stock up on supplies for the Gathering.
The next day, visiting Geillis, they discuss Tammas' condition, and Father Bain's distain of women. As they talk, they hear a noise in the town square, and notice Father Bain dragging a young boy through the square amidst shouting. Geillis is unconcerned, noting that it's the tanner's lad (Blair Cunningham), who has probably been caught stealing again, and that her husband, the fiscal, will have to pass judgement on him. When Claire inquires what will happen, she is shocked when Geillis admits that, since her husband isn't feeling well, the boy will probably lose his hand. Claire is incredulous, but they are interrupted by the appearance of Geillis' husband, Arthur Duncan (John Sessions), complaining of belly pains. Geillis is solicitous, and offers him a peppermint potion which seems to help. Claire tries to talk him out of cutting off the boy's hand, but Geillis interrupts with sweet, honeyed words that convinces Arthur to lessen the sentence to an hour with his ear nailed to the pillory. Arthur trots away to render judgement, and Geillis is matter-of-fact: "The man has no notion of guile," she observes dispassionately. The boy's ear is nailed to the post, and everyone wanders away. Geillis and Claire settle down for a chat, but are interrupted by Jamie coming to fetch Claire back to the castle. As they are leaving, Claire quietly asks Jamie how long the tanner's boy has to stay nailed, and Jamie tells her that his time is up but he has to work up the courage to tear himself loose. Horrified, Claire asks him how strong his fingers are. Understanding her meaning, Jamie mounts the scaffold to tease the tanner's boy. Claire, feigning a fainting spell, distracts the crowd for a moment to allow Jamie to quickly pull the nail out and free the boy. On their way home, Claire asks Jamie to help her on another matter.
They stop by the black kirk, and Jamie tells her that young boys, including him at one point, often come to the kirk to prove their manhood by tempting fate, sometimes eating berries or the wood garlic found on the grounds. Clare is immediately interested, and asks him to show her the wood garlic. Upon inspection, she discovers that what Jamie -- and probably the boys -- thought was wood garlic is actually lily of the valley, which is poisonous when ingested. Jamie has never heard of lily of the valley, and Claire admits that it's not native to Scotland, then remembers that the monks who previously inhabited the monastery were from Germany -- "no, Prussia," and probably imported it. Claire hurries away, with a puzzled Jamie trailing behind.
Later, Claire re-enters the Baxter's house, where Father Bain is performing another exorcism on a fading Tammas. Claire urgently explains what she thinks has happened to Tammas' mother, Mrs. Baxter (Lynsey-Anne Moffat). Father Bain interrupts, declairing that he is the Lord's disciple, she is not ordained to drive away the demon and orders her out of the house. She refuses, trying to explain that she means no blasphemy, but that the boy's problem is poison, not a demon. Mrs. Fitz quietly tells Father Bain to let Claire tend to Tammas, but Father Bain declares he will not be ordered about by a woman. Angrily, Mrs. Fitz tells him that this is her sister's house, and her father's before that, and "WE will decide what is done under it's roof!" Keeping her eyes locked on Father Bain, Mrs. Fitz directs Claire to take care of Tammas, but as she tries to pass, Father Bain snarls at her, "I smell the vapors of hell on you!" Claire shrugs him off, and quickly pours a belladonna decoction down Tammas' throat. Everyone gathers around to see if it works, Claire agonizes over whether she got the dose right, whether the strength of the medicine she uses was enough or too much, but Tammas responds quickly, to everyone's joy. Mrs. Fitz fervently thanks Claire, but Father Bain is unimpressed, telling Claire that "Satan may like to make a fool of God, but God will have the last word - I promise you that."
Afterwards, Claire is at the stables talking to Jamie as he grooms a horse, telling him what happened, and wondering if Father Bain would have rather seen Tammas die. Jamie observes that Father Bain has his own way of making sense out of the world, and tries to cheer Claire up by telling her that Mrs. Fitz has told Colum that Claire is a miracle worker. Claire wonders if that will earn her a measure of trust, but to her dismay, Jamie observes that it will probably make Colum want to keep her and her skills at Castle Leoch. "Ill never get out of here!" she exclaims in frustration, to Jamie's bemusement.
That evening, Claire almost decides to skip the Hall's entertainment, because she is aware of the looks of awe and suspicion that follow her wherever she goes. She decides to join them and seek oblivion in Colum's excellent wine, but is melancholy -- she sees no way to escape, and even if she does escape, there's no guarantee that the stones will take her back home to Frank - they may take her another two hundred years further in the past, or even as far back as the Roman occupation of Britain. But Jamie encourages her to sit with him, and as the bard sings, he translates the song for her: It's about a man, "on the eve of Samhein, who hears the sound of a woman singing sad and plaintive, from the very rocks of hell. 'I am a woman of Balmain,'" and proceeds to tell the story of a woman who "placed her hands upon the stone and traveled to a far distant land, where I lived for a time among strangers who became lovers and friends," but eventually traveled back through the stones to the man she loved. Claire listens, entranced. "She came back through the stones?" she asks incredulously. "Aye, she did," Jamie nods, "they always do." Claire realizes that the folk talk being sung by the bard is probably based on a distant true tale and is suddenly hopeful and resolute: She will escape Castle Leoch and return to the stones and Frank -- or die trying.
The Clan MacKenzie Gathering has begun and Claire (Caitriona Balfe) is being pursued through the forest. MacKenzie sentries on wooden towers take aim with their muskets at the sounds coming from the forest, but relax when Claire appears with several of the castle children in pursuit, including Hamish (Roderick Roddy Gilkison) and Tammas (Daniel Kerr). Their hunting game is soon put to an end by Claire's ever-present guards who want to return to the festivities of the gathering. Rupert (Grant O'Rourke) implores Claire to return saying there hasn't been a gathering since he was a bairn. Claire acquiesces and they head back to Castle Leoch.
As they return we hear Claire's thoughts in voiceover that the hunting game is a pleasant diversion that allows her to unobtrusively reconnoiter the castle grounds for escape routes. Having found and marked two such routes with bits of her hair ribbon and clothing, Claire now only needs to find something to distract Rupert and Angus (Stephen Walters) so that she can make good her escape that night.
One distraction presents itself shortly when she spots a woman (Victoria Taggart) in the gathering encampment who seems to fancy one of the men. Claire mentions this and a dispute erupts between the two men as to who gets to reciprocate that interest. Claire settles things with a game of "pulling sticks" that Angus wins. Claire and a visibly unhappy Rupert head to the stables ostensibly to choose a mount for tomorrow's hunt, while Claire explains in voiceover that she wants a gentle mount to use in her escape as it has been years since she has ridden a horse. Telling Old Alec (Liam Carney) that she has come to get a mount for the next day's hunt, which she, as castle healer, is to attend, he leads her to a filly with the unlikely name of Brimstone. Alec assures Claire the horse is misnamed, saying, "its like calling a big man wee." He assures Claire that Brimstone is really a good, gentle horse that will turn for home at the first opportunity. While discussing her mount with Alec, Claire learns that Jamie (Sam Heughan) is not about and is told by Alec that it is for the best for all concerned if Jamie keeps to himself until the gathering is over.
Having found her mount, Claire returns to the surgery where she is startled by Geillis (Lotte Verbeck) who was waiting for her. Geillis gives Claire a bottle of port she had requested and then proceeds to ask several very probing and discomfiting questions, clearly trying to pry from Claire answers she doesn't want to give. Geillis is obviously suspicious of Claire, asking her if she needs so much food because she is with bairn and questioning her about her husband who Claire, upon Geillis pushing her on the subject, finally asserts is dead rather than just "not alive." Geillis notices that Claire has a large amount of valerian root, enough, she says, "to put an army to sleep till the next moon." Claire excuses herself saying she must return to her preparations for the hunt. Geillis leaves, but not before remarking that the Highlands are no place for a woman alone.
As soon as Geillis is out of sight Claire prepares her bundle of food and heads for the kitchen in search of a weapon, stating in voiceover that all of the fighting men of Clan MacKenzie would be at the oath-taking ceremony that night making it her one and only chance to escape Castle Leoch and return to Criagh Na Dun. As she enters the kitchen she espies Angus eating a bite, and, through an open door, spots Rupert very much involved with the woman they had encountered earlier. Angus shrugs and Claire continues to the kitchen work area where she locates a knife. As she is about to hide the knife up her sleeve, Mrs. Fitz (Annette Badland) suddenly appears. Claire quickly slides the knife in amongst the clutter of the work table as Mrs. Fitz asks if she intends to wear what she has on to the ceremony. Claire states that she assumes a Sassenach would not be welcome, but Mrs. Fitz insists that she must attend since she is Colum's special guest and ushers Claire off to find suitable clothing.
Later, outfitted in a beautiful plaid and flower-embroidered gown with matching choker, Claire follows Mrs. Fitz upstairs to the gallery to observe the oath-taking. In voiceover Claire states she had realized that having Mrs. Fitz as chaperone for the oath-taking was actually a good thing that might make Rupert and Angus less vigilant and cause them to relax their guard on her. As they reach the gallery, Mrs. Fitz spies old acquaintance Iona McTavish (Diana Gabaldon) and they exchange a few edgy remarks hinting at a possible dislike existing between the two. Mrs. Fitz then greets Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) and draws him to the rail with Claire and herself where they observe Colum's (Gary Lewis') entrance into the hall. To the accompaniment of a bagpiper Colum makes a grand entrance and takes his place on the dais, giving a rousing speech in Gaelic, which Murtagh translates for Claire. Afterwards, Dougal (Graham McTavish) is the first to pledge his loyalty to Colum as laird. He pledges on his dirk, then kisses Colums extended hands, and drinks from the vessel of whiskey offered to him by Colum who then drinks from it himself. Dougal rises and heads to the back of the hall where he takes a big drink from an offered bottle as the rest of the clansmen line up to pledge their oaths to his brother.
As the oath-taking continues, Claire excuses herself saying "if you have seen one..." Downstairs she encounters Angus, who has just given his oath, and tells him she is heading for her surgery to continue preparing for the hunt. Angus argues and pleads with her to stay and enjoy the festivities. Seeming to give in, Claire produces the bottle of port, takes a drink and offers it to Angus. Chortling over her behavior Angus takes the bottle and drinks long from it. As he does so, Claire turns and unobtrusively spits onto the floor the valerian-laced port she was holding in her mouth. Angus remarks that the wine is "no Rhenish," Claire revealing to him that it is port. "'Tis quite strong," Angus says, "I can't keep my legs about me." "It is a sedative," Claire replies. "Is that Spanish?" Angus inquires. Claire encourages him to keep the bottle and share it with all his friends. As he wanders off looking for female company, forgetting about Claire, she says in voiceover "the more unconscious clansmen tonight, the better."
Finally getting back to the surgery, Claire gathers her things and is on her way out the door when she almost bumps into Laoghaire (Nell Hudson) who has come to seek her help with a problem. Asking what she can do for her, Laoghaire responds shyly that she was wondering if Claire might have a potion that would open a lad's heart to a lassie. Claire realizes she is speaking of Jamie and says that when last she saw them together Laoghaire didn't seem to be having any problem holding Jamie's attention. Laoghaire answers that it isn't "that" for which she needs the potion, but she wishes something to move his heart forward. Claire hurries back into the surgery and scoops some dried horse dung into a bottle saying to herself that it is harmless and Jamie will never know the difference. Giving the potion to Laoghaire, she tells her to sprinkle it on Jamie's threshold, tap her heels together three times, and recite "there's no place like love, there's no place like love," having obviously seen "The Wizard of Oz" in 1939 England. Laoghaire thanks her and they go their separate ways.
As Claire makes her way out of the castle she encounters three drunken clansmen near the kitchen who try to force their attentions on her. She knees one, but cannot fight the others off. Dougal suddenly appears and removes Claire from their grasp, saying something to them in Gaelic that causes them to leave. Dougal is very drunk and Claire, becoming uneasy, states that she should leave. Dougal stops her saying she must now pay a penalty, and kissing her, starts to fumble with raising her skirts only to be soundly slapped by Claire. Reason restored, Dougal tells her to "get ye gone, lass." Claire looks for the bundle she dropped and sees it by Dougal's feet. He follows her gaze and is bending to pick it up when Claire hits him over the head with a stool, knocking him out. She retrieves her bundle and quickly leaves, making her way across the courtyard to the stables.
Claire hurries through the stables toward Brimstone's stall and trips over Jamie, asleep in the hay, who comes awake holding his dirk to her throat. "Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ," Claire croaks, and Jamie replies, "No, Sassenach, just me." He sees her bundle, and, picking it up, asks her how far she thought she would get on a dark night, with a strange horse and with half of the clan MacKenzie after her by morning. She replies that they wouldn't be after her - they were all up at the hall and she would be surprised if one in five of them were sober enough to stand in the morning let alone ride a horse. Jamie remarks that she is running away on a whim just because the men are drunk and Claire replies that it isn't a whim, he knows she has wanted to leave Castle Leoch for weeks. She tells him she knows exactly how many sentry posts are around the castle as well as how to find her way through the woods and find the road back to Inverness. "That's a very sound plan, Sassenach, or it would be, did Colum not post extra guards through the woods tonight. He would hardly leave the castle undefended with all of the fighting men of the clan inside it." Claire defiantly states that she is going anyway and walks toward Brimstone's stall. An exasperated Jamie calls after her that the best trackers in the clan are present and that they will find her. "Colum will not be calling you guest after that," he concludes. A visibly upset Claire states that no one should care since she is, as he stated, just an outlander, a Sassenach. Jamie says he is sorry if he offended her and Claire responds that she knows he didn't mean it that way, she is just upset to have her hope of the escape she had been planning for some time shot to hell in a moment's time. Jamie takes her bundle and gently says he will see her back to the castle, beginning to walk away. Claire doesn't budge, saying she doesn't think that is a good idea and tells him about her encounter with the drunken clansmen. He asks if they touched her and she responds by saying that she cannot go back and tells him of her encounter with Dougal. "Dougal and I were in the corridor near the kitchen. He was being forward with me, and I may have walloped him over the head with a chair or something. I think he's unconscious." Jamie asks if Dougal was drunk and Claire responds "Very." Jamie laughs and tells her he doubts very much that Dougal will remember the incident, and, even if he does, he will not want to admit that a lass got the better of him. He playfully nudges her with his shoulder, "You knocked him out cold, hunh?" "I didn't exactly stick around to examine him." "Well, I hope you left a good mark so he'll remember his error in judgment. It's fine, Sassenach. Come." Taking her hand he leads her to a secret tunnel leading into the castle he had discovered as a child. At the tunnel entrance they stop to exchange a few words of thanks and are caught by the castle guards. Recognizing Jamie as Colum's nephew the men say he has come late to the oath-taking and that he wouldn't want to miss his turn in front of himself. Desperately Jamie tells them he is not decent to attend dressed as he is and asks leave to go to the cottage and change, but is told they can outfit him proper inside. The clansman holding Claire asks to keep the lassie, and Jamie knocks him out with a cry to "let the lady go." Asking if she is all right, Claire cries out a warning too late as Rupert knocks Jamie over the head.
In the castle, appropriate clothing for the ceremony is provided to Jamie who tells Rupert he didn't need to hit him so hard, he was willing to come, to which Rupert responds that he didn't want Jamie maiming half the clan while he was making up his mind. Rupert gives him a brooch for his kilt. Claire translates the Latin "Luceo non oro" on the brooch as "I shine, not burn" and is told it is the MacKenzie clan motto. As the others talk, Claire apologizes to Jamie who was hit while standing up for her. He tells her not to fash herself on his account stating that his sister says his head is hard as an iron pot. Holding the brooch, he tells Claire he cannot wear it because he's not a MacKenzie. Asking if Claire knows his clan motto, which she doesn't because she doesn't even know what clan he is from, he tells her it is "je suis prest" and drops the MacKenzie brooch into a bucket of water. Jamie tells Claire to find a place in the hall. As she leaves we again hear her thoughts in voiceover, "Je suis prest. I am ready. But ready for what?"
Claire enters the hall as the oath-taking continues and we see Angus struggling to stay awake. Approaching Murtagh Claire can see over his shoulder that Jamie is approaching the main entrance. Claire whispers to Murtagh, "Jamie's here." Startled, Murtagh turns to look, as do many others in the hall. Claire asks why everyone is so tense and Murtagh shushes her, drawing her aside to explain. He tells her that if Jamie pledges fealty to Colum he becomes part of Clan MacKenzie and would be in line to become laird. He explains that clans are tanist, so if enough clansmen wanted Jamie as laird, they would elect him. Claire says she thinks Mr. McTavish would make a good laird, but Murtagh says that was an honor Dougal had been holding for himself when Colum dies. Should Jamie swear his oath to Colum, Dougal wouldn't let him breathe MacKenzie air for long. Claire asks why Jamie doesn't just refuse to take the oath and Murtagh tells her that while he abides at Leoch and as the laird's nephew and a healthy man of arms, he has no choice. Should he refuse to do so before all, the maids would likely be scrubbing Jamie's blood from the floor at Colum's feet. "No matter what he decides he winds up dead? Why stay at the castle, why doesn't he just leave if both of his uncles would have his head on a pike?" "He's got a price on his head. The only safe place in Scotland is here, at Leoch. Until now. If Jamie had just stayed hidden until the gathering is over, Colum and Dougal wouldn't have pressed the matter any further." "Leaving the stables to escort me back. Oh God, this is all my fault!" Claire says as she turns to see what happens. "Aye, it tis," Murtagh agrees.
As Jamie enters the hall, Dougal appears rubbing the back of his head. They eye one another as both make their way to Colum. Jamie is the last in line and is clearly troubled. He hesitates, then takes a knee before Colum, but continues to look down, saying nothing, trying to decide what to do. At last he rises and faces Colum. As he does so, Dougal's grip on his dirk tightens. "Colum MacKenzie, I come to you as kinsman and as ally, but I give you no vow, for my oath is pledged to the name that I bear." At this several clansmen start to unsheathe their dirks. Stepping closer to Colum, Jamie says, "I give you my obedience as kinsman, and as laird. And I hold myself bound to your word, so long as my feet rest on the lands of the Clan MacKenzie." Colum stares at Jamie, then turns, picks up the vessel of whiskey, and, smiling, offers it to Jamie. Jamie smiles in relief and takes the vessel with a quick bow of his head, than proceeds to drain the entire thing to the cheers of the clan. Colum says something loudly in Gaelic and bagpipes and dancing begin immediately. Colum and Dougal exchange a meaningful look as Jamie makes his way through the throng to Murtagh's side, nodding at Claire as he approaches. "I'm getting too old for this," Murtagh states as Jamie reaches him. Jamie and Murtagh take their leave of Claire, who turns away, and Jamie casts one last look at her before exiting through a side door.
The next day is the boar tynchal. Claire approaches Rupert as he sharpens his spear stating that "this is a quite a show of force for a pig hunt." "It's a boar." "Oh, of course, twenty men armed with spears and muskets seems about right to me for one hairy pig." "You've clearly never seen one then. Get to your mount. Time to go." The hunt begins as men on foot and horseback advance armed with spears, bows, and muskets, beating on their shields and yelling to drive the herd of boar before them. Suddenly a boar coming from cover startles a horse, unseating its rider who is then gored in the leg. Rupert hearing the man's cry of distress turns and runs to him calling for Mistress Claire as he goes.
We next see Claire bandaging the man's leg and berating him, saying, "It serves you right, what did you expect the animal to do with you barbarians chasing it? Did you forget their tusks could be lethal?" Assuring him he would not lose his leg, but would have a limp, she gives Rupert instructions for Mrs. Fitz and instructs him to take the man back to the castle. Suddenly, there is another scream up ahead. Claire tells Rupert to take the man back now and runs toward the cry. As she runs toward danger, a frustrated Rupert exhorts her to wait for him. Hurrying forward, Claire hears another cry and calls "Where are you?" Immediately, she hears the loud grunt of the boar and the rustling of the underbrush nearby. Frightened, she continues moving forward while turning in circles looking for the boar. A boar surges from the undergrowth to her right, just as a loud crack from a musket is heard. The boar drops dead mere feet from Claire who sees Dougal a short distance away holding a smoking musket. Another scream is heard ahead and Dougal moves off immediately toward the injured man. Claire takes a few moments to recover from her fright, then follows to find Dougal holding and comforting a clansman with a horrible gash in his thigh. As she applies a tourniquet Claire assures the man, Geordie (Bryan Larkin), that he will not lose his leg. She stops the bleeding, but discovers upon turning back his kilt that his intestines are exposed and we hear in voiceover that the wound to his stomach is fatal, she can stop the bleeding to his leg as it is not arterial, but it will only cause him to linger in agony. Shaking her head at Dougal, he reaches down and, out of sight of Geordie, releases the tourniquet, giving him a better death Claire states in voiceover. As Geordie begins to bleed out, Dougal and he talk of old times and Dougal confesses to having slept with Geordie's sister. Geordie is in great pain, but Claire tells him it will be better soon, the pain will be gone soon. Geordie replies that he can no longer feel his leg or his hands. Claire asks Geordie about his home and he describes it, saying he wishes he were there now. Dougal replies that he soon will be. He asks Dougal to stay with him and both he and Claire reply that they will. Geordie soon dies in Dougal's arms, and Dougal and Claire share a long look over his body.
Returning to the castle with Geordie's body draped over one horse and another dragging the carcass of the boar, they come upon the clansmen playing a rousing game of shinty. Dougal is in a rare mood after the death of Geordie, and, spying Jamie amongst the players, takes up a stick and charges toward him, hitting a man behind the legs and knocking another through a cooking fire as he goes. Jamie has the ball and Dougal hits him from behind. They fight over the ball, Dougal remarking that he taught Jamie this game to which Jamie responds, "Aye, ye did." Dougal hits Jamie in the stomach with his stick and steals the ball, then passes it to Angus. Murtagh takes the ball from Angus and, at Jamie's cry, passes it to him. Jamie is fielding the ball when Dougal hits him from behind again and knocks him down, stealing the ball in the process. Claire and Rupert are watching from the sidelines and Claire says to Rupert, "That doesn't look very fair." Jamie rises, saying, "That's twice you've caught me napping" and charges after Dougal, tackling him. Dougal lands on top and presses Jamie into the ground telling him to "Yield," but Jamie says "What would you think of me if I did?" to which Dougal replies, "Not much." Dougal is soon up and off after the ball while Murtagh intercepts Angus who was trying to hit Jamie a blow that looked deadly while he was down, hitting Angus between the legs while telling him to "Play fair, now!" Jamie and Dougal lock sticks in the middle of the field after Dougal hits him from behind again. Jamie fends Dougal off by crossing their sticks, but Dougal manages to hit him several blows on either side of his body. Everyone stops and watches this little duel. Having finally had enough, Jamie uses the leverage of his stick crossed with Dougal's to heave Dougal over his head, flipping him onto his back. Throwing down his stick, Jamie offers Dougal a hand up with the words "Ye taught me well." Dougal says, "Aye, too well" and takes the offered hand, but not with good grace. Still locked at the forearm they glare in one another's faces before each throwing off the other's hand. Dougal turns and stalks off and Jamie looks across the field to Claire giving her a quick nod of salutation. Murtagh approaches him and they walk off compainably, Jamie asking "Did we win?"
Later we see Claire grinding up herbs in her surgery, thinking in voiceover that, her escape plan thwarted, she fears being stuck in this dungeon forever. Not ready to give up, she needs time to come up with another plan. Dougal enters saying, "You've seen men die before, and by violence." Claire responds, "Yes, many of them." Dougal tells her she is doing a fine job as healer and thanks her for helping Geordie. Claire says that in truth she did nothing for him, but Dougal says she "took him to a peaceful place which is all that any of us can ask when we pass." He then tells her that he is going on the road the next day and plans to take her with him. Since Colum does not travel he is going out to visit the tenants who could not come to the gathering and to collect the rents. He thinks it wise to have a healer along who does well under strain as there is a lot of that on the road. Telling her they are leaving at first light he admonishes her not to be late for dinner so as not to anger Mrs. Fitz and then leaves.
The next dawn we see a group led by Dougal and including Jamie, Claire, Angus, Rupert, and Murtagh leaving the castle. In voiceover we hear Claire's thoughts that perhaps this journey will bring her closer to the standing stones of Craigh Na Dun and that, if so, she is determined to reach them, knowing this time, she must not fail.
Claire (Caitriona Balfe) is sitting on the shore of a lake, gazing over the beautiful expanse of water and mountains. Absently, she recites, outloud, a poem by John Donne (1572-1631):
"Absence, hear thou my protestation Against thy strength, distance and length. Do what thou canst for alteration . . ."
She is surprised when Ned Gowan (Bill Paterson), Dougal's lawyer, quietly joins her and finishes the verse with her, "For hearts of truest mettle, Absence doth still, and Time doth settle." Ned confesses that John Dunne is one of his favorites. As the rest of the group is racously roughhousing and shouting merrily in Gaelic, Claire and Ned chat, and Claire asks Ned what they are talking about. Somewhat embarrased, Ned tells her that Willie (Finn Den Hertog) is being teased because it is his first time on the road with them, and he is being encouraged to "have Biblical relations . . . ah, with his sister." Claire, used to the rough language of Army personnel, isn't shocked, and she and Ned stroll along the shore of lake. Ned tells her that he's along to take care of records and receipts. As he tucks something in to his horse's pack, Claire admires his portable desk. He describes how the rents are collected -- as grain, fowl, even goats, but admits that he has drawn the line this year -- no pigs. His persistent coughing draws Claire's attention, and diagnosing a case of asthma, she gives him some thornapple to smoke in his pipe and calm the coughing. As he begins to inhale, Claire thinks to herself that the thornapple — also known as Jimson weed — relieves the asthma symptoms. The treatment works quickly, and Dougal (Graham McTavish) calls for the group to continue on down the road.
As they travel down the road, Ned and Claire continue to get to know each other. He tells her that he studied law in Edinburgh and had a nice office "with lace curtains in the window and a shiny brass plaque with his name engraved on it," but wanted more adventure in his life, so he moved to the Highlands. Claire observes, to his amusement, that he may be a man of the law, but he has the soul of a romantic.
Claire enjoys getting to know Ned, but is still single-minded in her determination to return to the standing stones at Craig na Dun and the 20th century. When they stop to camp for the evening, she is an outsider as the rest of the party speaks only Gaelic -- she knows they are talking about her, and is annoyed that they are using the Gaelic to deliberately exclude her. Disconsolately, she reminds herself not to let it bother her, since she won't be there very long, but she still feels alone. Jamie (Sam Heughan) joins her, and tells her not to let them bother her. "They hate me," she mutters. Jamie acknowledges that they don't trust her. "Well," he says with a wink, "maybe Angus (Stephen Walters) hates you -- but he hates everyone!" Claire smiles at his attempt to cheer her. She asks him if he thinks she is a British spy, and he tells her no, but that he thinks that there are things that she isn't telling them, and that she had tried to run away during the Gathering -- and is still thinking about it, "plain and clear." Chagrined, Claire cuts the conversation short. "It's been a long day," she says shortly, walking away from him. Jamie reminds her, "You did ask," but she ignores him and goes to her tent.
The next day, at a village, Claire is bored, and watches Ned collect the rents. She notices that some money goes into a different pouch. Dougal is genial with the villagers, knowing most of them and their families by name. As one family brings a live pig for rent payment, Ned is unenthusiastic, and when Claire asks him about his vow of no pigs, he just shakes his head in resignation. With nothing to do, Claire begins to wander around the village, and tries to follow the source of some singing that she hears. She encounters one of the women, Donalda Gilcrist (Valerie Edmond) who asks if she needs help. Claire admits that the song is new to her, and the woman tells her that it's a working song, as they are working wool. Claire admits that she's not accustomed to being idle, and the woman notes that she has strong hands. "Idle? We'll see about that . . ." and invites Claire to follow her. They join a group of women merrily singing at a large worktable, and beating a length of wool. When the woman introduces Claire, the singing stops abruptly and scowls replace their earlier merriment. Uncomfortable, Claire takes a tentative seat, and joins in. As one of the women splash the wool with a liquid, Claire's nose wrinkles: "That's pungent . . is that . . ?" "Aye, it's hot piss -- it sets the dye," confirms the woman matter-of-factly. They start another work song in Gaelic, and make room for Claire to sit with them -- Claire tentatively picks up the refrain and joins in with the working of the wool and the song.
After a long spell of working the wool, the women take a break, drinking a strong brew. A baby wakes up, crying, and Claire's new friend explains that the baby is hungry because it is teething, but they had to give the goat to the laird. Claire is disturbed. "That doesn't seem fair," she mutters. Later, she asks if Craig na Dun is nearby, and discovers that it is three days away. One of the women tells a story about a man who swore he saw fairies there, but it turned out to be a sheep, instead. Everyone laughs, and then prepares to go back to work. But more hot piss is needed, and Claire is invited to "contribute" to the pot. A bit embarrassed, but willing, she lifts her skirts and squats over the pot -- just as an agitated Angus (Stephen Walters) bursts in. He's been "looking to hell and back for ye!" and tells her that they are ready to go. When she protests that they aren't finished, he grabs her roughly and shoves her out the door. When she continues to protest, Angus observes that she's been drinking and smells like piss. "Well, THAT'S the pot calling the kettle black!" she retorts, snatching her arm away from him. They are both angry, and Angus threatens to tie her to the wagon. As they walk to the assembled wagons, she spots the goat. She snatches it and begins to lead it back to the women, to the protests of one of the party. They argue, and Angus observes that she's drunk. "I am no such thing!" she declares, fighting over the goat. Douglal appears, and asks Angus where he found her, and why is it so hard to keep track of one Sassenach. "Slippery as an eel, that one!" Angus protests, as Claire continues her tug-of-war over the goat. She confronts Dougal, asking if the goat is more important than letting the children go hungry, but Dougal is adamant -- the goat is payment, faire and square, and goes with them. Suddenly, a cultured British voice rings out: "Madam, is everything all right? May I be of service?" To her surprise, a young man, wearing a work apron, has appeared. Neatly groomed, he does not resemble the other wild-looking Highlanders, and his language is that of a gentleman. Angrily, Angus and Dougal tells him to mind his own business, but he persists, telling them that he is talking to the lady. "The 'lady' is a guest of Clan MacKenzie," declares Dougal pointedly. "Do you treat all your guests this way?" the young man inquires. Angus tells him to "bugger off", and, after a few more insults and sizing up the unfriendly MacKenzie group, the young man decides the odds are against him and withdraws. Dougal orders her to mount up and get ready to leave -- no one notices that that young man ducks back into his hut and quickly dons a British officer's redcoat and tricorn hat.
That evening, Dougal is talking expansively to the villagers in the local tavern, as everyone laughs and relaxes. As one party leaves, the doors are locked, and the atmosphere changes noticeably. Dougal begins an earnest speech in Gaelic, which rises to a crescendo as he grasps Jamie's shirt and tears it from his back, exposing his scars from his lashing. The crowd gasps in horror, and after a few more words, the crowd starts contributing a few coins, which Ned carefully places in a pouch as Jamie sits in stoic fury. After the crowd leaves, Dougal reviews the take, and pronouces it a good sum for the size of the village. He pats Jamie on the back and chortles that "with Jamie's back, it's as good as money in the bank!" as Jamie winces. Gathering up the torn shirt, he tosses it at Claire, demanding that she mend it. Outraged at his actions, she throws the shirt back at him, telling him to mend it himself. Dougal, taking a long drink, sniffs and informs her that he won't be mending it, and Claire relents, stooping to gather the shirt from the floor. Tightly, Jamie declares that he will be mending his own shirt, and grabbing the torn shirt, angrily stomps out.
The next day, Claire sits apart from the group by a stream, and Ned brings her some black pudding, "an acquired taste," and joins her. She accepts the sausage, and then takes him to task, asking him if he thinks that Colum would approve of him helping Dougal steal money from his tenants, and using his nephew Jamie to do it. Ned's face is impassive, but he acknowledges that she is a "canny lassie." Smugly, she goes on to say that she just wants to know how the system works. "Two bags of money, obviously -- are there two sets of books as well? One for each brother?" Ned acknowledges that she seems to have it all sorted out. Claire remarks that she didn't know that they taught common thievery at the University of Edinburgh. Ned tells her that she's got a good head on her shoulders and a tongue for argument. "You'd make a fine advocate yourself -- it's a pity they don't allow women to practice law!" "Not yet," Claire says darkly. Ned rises to leave, lightly telling her that "we have a few centuries before that happens!" "Only two," Claire says to herself, gazing into the stream. Turning, she sees Dougal gazing at her, unsmiling, and realizes that she has lost whatever small measure of trust that she had managed to acquire from her efforts at healing.
After weeks on the road, watching the same money-gathering routine, Claire's feeling of helplessness grew, knowing she was no closer to Craig na Dun, and may have to reconcile herself to living the rest of her life among strangers. One day, they come upon a family struggling against a band of men as their house is burning, who Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) explains is the Watch, a group that extracts fees to protect cattle -- "or else, they will steal them themselves!" Claire is disgusted at the extortionist practices, but is surprised when one of their party rides up to the group, talks to them and comes back with a bag of fowl. Claire wonders why they are burning the house, and Murtagh explains that the family is suspected of being British sympathizers. Claire is outraged, and Ned explains that even though the Watch may be criminals, it's considered worse to have British sympathies. As the bag is shown to Dougal, Claire caustically observes that Dougal got his cut, and Ned demures, "Ah, no, that's just business." Claire realizes that Jamie is nowhere to be found, and Ned explains that if the Watch caught him, they would turn him in for the price on his head. "Their loyalty lies where the money lies," observes Murtagh matter-of-factly, and their party continues their trip.
At a stop for a meal, the fowl are cooked over a fire, and Claire is offered a portion. She refuses the bird, declaring piously that she has no appetite for stolen food. Angus takes offense, and jumps up to confront her. Heated words are exhanged, and Angus threatens her with his dirk. Jamie tries to deflect the anger, as he cheerfully reminds Angus that it doesn't matter if she doesn't eat, it just leaves more for the rest of them. Angus relents, spitting the ground at Claire's feet contemptuously, and Claire stomps away from the group to settle on a fallen tree. Jamie approaches her, asking what got into her to talk to Angus that way. Angrily, Claire tells him that "Angus can kiss my British ass!" Jamie shakes his head a bit at the language, and tries to make her see that her words were "fighting words". Claire angrily tells him that "where she comes from . . ." but is interrupted by Jamie reminding her that it doesn't matter where she comes from -- she's here. She asks him defiantly if she's just supposed to stand by and watch, but Jamie cautions her that she should not judge things that she doesn't understand, and urges her to stay out of it.
At another village, Dougal is reviewing the subdued villagers' rent payments, and notices that one man, with his hat anxiously crumpled in his hand, isn't paying. The man explains, hesitantly, that the Redcoats had been through two days ago and taken everything. He reminds Dougal that he has always been prompt with his rent, but "this evening, I can't feed my family." He gazes anxiously at Dougal, and everyone waits to see what Dougal's decision will be. He thinks for a moment, pats the man on the shoulder reassuringly, and then strides to the wagons, pulling down a bag of food, and hands it to the man, telling him that his family will eat tonight, and later he will join them for a drink. He turns to the villgers and announces that tonight, everyone will eat, and later "join us for a dram." As everyone relaxes and begins to gather food, Claire tells Dougal that she knows his motives -- the more he feeds them today, the more money he will collect for himself that evening. Angrily, Dougal advances on her, but Ned jumps up and inserts himself in the argument, warningly telling Dougal that "the lass can see right through us -- the Scots are not as canny as the British, it's a good thing we aren't doing this in Oxfordshire." There's an odd note in the warning that Claire is confused by, and though Dougal is obviously irritated by her words, he asks her what she is accusing him of. "A penny for the laird, a pound for your own pocket," she sneers, "or whatever you want to call it. Dougal takes a deep breath, looks away, and then looks back at her, calmly. "I call it clan business, and none of yours," he tells her, and leaves her standing with Ned, who looks at her with a combination of reproachfulness and "I told you so."
In the tavern that even, Claire wearily listened to the same Gaelic speech she had heard dozens of times, and saw the same performance of Jamie's shirt being removed to show his scars. Suddenly, though, she catches a familiar phrase: "Love live the Stuart!"
In a flashback, she remembers Frank (Tobias Menzies) and the Reverend Wakefield (James Fleet) in the Reverend's study explaining the Jacobite rebellions of the early 1700s -- the uprising of 1715, and the most famous one in 1745, with Bonne Prince Charles, a pretender to the British throne who was gathering Scottish sympathizers called Jacobites. Frank is surprised by her questions, and asks what it was she was doing in the desert. Smiling, Claire recites that Jacobite comes from the Latin 'Jacobus', which was the Latin for 'James', since they were followers of King James II, the Catholic king who was overthrown by the Protestants. Frank, proud of her command of the history, teasingly calls her a show-off, and as she gazes at an antique early Scottish flag over the fireplace -- blue, with a white cross -- the Reverand goes on to remind her that the Jacobites had devoted themselves to restoring a Catholic king, and that Charles Stuart had used the Highlands to raise money for a Jacobite army . . . "a lost cause, as it turned out . . ."
Claire, sitting by the fire, suddenly puts all the pieces of Dougal's puzzling behavior together -- it wasn't criminal, it was political. The MacKenzies were raising money for the Stuart uprising. Later that evening, as Claire sits thoughtfully by the campfire, she hears Dougal and Jamie arguing. Silently, she moves to within earshot, and hears Dougal defending the collection of money to Jamie, noting that they are all MacKenzies and are given freely. Jamie, however, is tired of being used as an example, and Dougal challenges him as to his loyalties, since it would seem that Jamie's neck would be safer with a Stuart king. "My neck is my own concern, and so is my back!" exclaims Jamie angrily. "Not while you travel with me, sweet lad," Dougal reminds him, leaving him fuming and punching a tree in frustration. Claire carefully asks him if he will continue to allow Dougal to use him, and Jamie admits that he will, saying simply "he's my uncle," and observing that a man has to choose what is worth fighting for.
The next morning, as they are packing up the camp, Claire realizes that she sees them differently -- not as criminals, but as rebels, and wishes that she could tell these proud and passionate men that they are on the losing side of history.
As the party travels, they come upon two bodies strung up on crude crosses -- crucified, with a "T" for traitor carved on their bodies -- as a warning from the Redcoats. Dougal orders that the bodies be cut down and given a proper Christian burial. Later that evening, Dougal is passionately decrying the British among the Scots. The crowd is subdued by the executions, but is generous with their donations. Later that night, while in bed, Claire hears a noise outside her door. Curious, she goes to the door and peers out carefuly, and then suddenly trips over a huddle pile by her door -- Jamie, curled up asleep at her door. He tells her that the tavern is full of angry Scots and he wanted to make sure they didn't bother her. She thanks him, and invites him to sleep in her room, where it's warmer. He is scandalized, and tells her that it would ruin her reputation. She laughs and reminds him that she sleeps with him and ten other men every night under the stars, but he insists that it's not the same thing at all. She offers him a blanket, at least, to keep warm, and he accepts, assuring her that he will "be right here," outside her door. She goes back to bed, smiling.
The next morning, as she comes down to breakfast, a table of townsmen are glaring at her, and muttering under their breath. She joins her group, and greets Jamie, who quickly greets her and leaves to tend to the horses. As she eats breakfast, the townsmen start chortling and laughing. She sits by Ned and quietly asks him why he let her think they were thieves. "What makes you think otherwise?" he asks her, smiling, and she tells him that Dougal's speech convinced her. When Ned is surprised because he didn't think she knew Gaelic, she rolls her eyes and tells him that she has picked up enough to recognize "Love Live The Stuarts", at least. Ned warns her that she may know more than she should. She goes on to tell him that the Stuart cause is a futile one, that they can't win against the British army, the best army in the world. "You talk about it as if the future is already decided," he observes, smiling, allowing as he would put the Scots "fighting hearts" against the British any day. But Claire is pragmatic, reminding him that fighting hearts stand no chance against a cannon. "You're going to lose," she says, emphatically. "That's your opinion," Ned says mildly. She tries to convince him, but he is undeterred. "History -- be damned," he says confidently. They become aware that the Gaelic conversation of the townsmen have attracted the attention of the MacKenzies. Suddenly, the MacKenzies stand up, and a brawl ensues.
Later, Claire is tending their injuries, fussing over their fighting. "Any excuse for a fight!" she fumes, but is taken aback when Murtagh tells her, "You were the excuse!" He goes on to tell her that it was her honor they were defending, and that one of the townsmen had called her a whore. Shocked, she looks around at her defenders, who all look down or away, embarrassed. Murtagh explains that she is a guest of The MacKenzie. "We can insult you -- but God help any other man that does!" he finishes, simply. She stands, abashed.
As they get ready to mount their horses for the morning's ride, Rupert (Grant O'Rourke) is telling a story about having two girls in bed with him, jealously fighting over which one he will "swive" first. The men are listening avidly, with guffaws. "Can you believe it?!" he exclams. "I believe your left hand was jealous of your right -- that's all I believe!" Claire interjects dryly. After a moment of shocked silence, Rupert breaks out into gales of laughter, and the atmosphere of the party lightens considerably. Jamie, helping Claire with her bridle, says under his breath, with a smile, "You're the witty one!" Rupert exclaims that he has never heard the woman make a joke, and Claire tells him that there's a first time for everything, and the rest of the party laugh and relax. Jamie mentions that is going to be a long ride -- three days before they cross Culloden Moor. Claire, startled, remembers her and Frank's visit to Culloden . . .
An engraved stone marks the site of the battle: "The Battle of Culloden was fought on this moor, 16th April 1746." Frank and Claire walk the windswept moor, as Frank describes the total devestation of the Jacobite army, all within the space of an hour. He then goes on to describe that Culloden was only the beginning of the British devestation of Scotland, and how their rules on no gatherings, no tartans, and the slow dismantling of the clans meant that Culloden was also the beginning of the end for the Highland way of life in Scotland. They stroll by stone markers that commemorate the clans that took part in the uprising -- one of them etched with a simple "Clan MacKenzie."
She wonders how many of these men will be alive after Culloden. At a rest stop, Angus unbends enough to carry her packs to the fire, with a friendly smile. She announces that she is going to the river to wash, but no one seems concerned. As she washes, Dougal confronts her, telling her that, for an "English lady of Oxfordshire", she seems to have strong political opinions. He observes that she sees things, and if she tells the Redcoats, they'll be hung from crosses just like the men they cut down. She protests that she is not a spy, but he accuses of her sowing the seeds of doubt in their midst,"working behind the cover of her women's skirts to undermine the Cause." She tries to tell him that she is just trying to warn him. "Warn me about what?" he demands. She thinks, wondering what she can say that will not get her in further trouble, and settles on "I'm trying to save your life," but they are interrupted by the approach of a patrol of Redcoats. One of them greets her: "It's a pleasure to see you again . . and once more, I'll ask you -- is everything all right?" Claire, surprised, recognizes the officer as the young British man from the earlier village, and tentatively greets him. He cooly introduces himself as "Lieutenant Jeremy Foster (Tom Brittney), of His Majesty's army," and the MacKenzies realize that their camp is surrounded by Redcoats. "And this time, I do mean to ascertain the lady's wellbeing." Dougal rises and confront Lt. Foster, telling him that the lady is none of his concern. Uncowed, the Lieutenant asks Dougal who he is, and Dougal proudly tells him "Dougal MacKenzie, Warchief and brother to Colum, Laird of the MacKenzie clan, and the lands upon which you stand." Undeterred, Lt. Foster tells him, "MacKenzie or not, if you are holding this English lady against her will, you will be dealt with." He addresses Claire, and asks her, "Tell me, madam, are you here by your own choice?"
Dougal turns to stare at her. The lieutenant waits for her to respond. Claire looks back and forth between them, weighing the possible answers . . .
S01-E06: The Garrison Commander — Directed by Brian Kelly; Written by Ira Steven Behr
The episode opens on the same beat that closed the last: Lieutenant Foster (Tom Brittney) asking Claire (Caitriona Balfe) if she's with the MacKenzies by her own accord.
"I appreciate your concern, Lieutenant, but I can assure you, I am a guest of the clan MacKenzie," she answers.
Foster takes her at her word but says that his commander would like to speak to her nonetheless.
"If the lady goes, I go," Dougal (Graham McTavish) replies.
So he and Claire follow the Redcoats into enemy territory, on the MacKenzie's own land. They arrive at Brockton, where the Redcoats have taken over an inn. Claire and Dougal are escorted into a dining room to meet Brigadier General Sir Oliver Lord Thomas (John Heffernan). Lord Thomas is dining on venison with about a dozen of his comrades and offers Claire his hand with "It's been far too long since I gazed upon a lovely English rose", and then offers her a seat at the head of the table. Dougal's teased over his incomprehensible accent: "I don't know about the rest of you, but I fail to understand a single word the creature said!", and what he wears under his kilt, which Lord Thomas acknowledges is a terrible insult! Dougal threatens one of the soldiers with "You pull that needle and we'll see who pricks who!" Claire says that they're both acting like children and calls for peace.
"My word, madam, if I were brave enough, I would commission you a colonel in one of my regiments," Thomas says. "You do know how to order men about."
"Aye, she does that," Dougal agrees, displaying just the slightest of smirks before going downstairs to nurse a drink (or five).
Claire regales the table with her tales of Highland life and is promised safe passage to Inverness. All is well, until Captain Black Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies) barges in. Rebuked by Lord Thomas for endangering his claret with his muck-covered uniform, Randall doesn't immediately notice Claire. It's not until he goes to make his exit that his eyes land upon the Englishwoman. And she holds his steady stare, rousing Thomas' curiosity.
"For a moment there, the lady did look familiar. But I can see now I was wrong," Randall replies in answer to Thomas' question.
"I had the same exact experience," Claire says. "How unusual."
Black Jack decides he isn't going to miss a moment of this gathering. He steps just outside the room to dust himself off (kicking his boots against the doorjamb like some petulant child) and walks right back in. He has a tale to tell about the Scot (Dougal) downstairs. Of course, Thomas knows all about that. And then Thomas comes up with the worst idea ever: It should be Randall who accompanies Claire to Inverness, so he can hear about "Mrs. Beauchamp Among the Savages!"
Talk turns to a recently beheaded Private MacGreavy and those dastardly Scots who likely did it. Claire retorts with the hung Highlanders she and the MacKenzies found along the road just days before. Black Jack picks up on her Scottish sympathies and begins to use them against her.
"All this time living with savages, I have to wonder if Dougal MacKenzie shared more than food and shelter with the lady. Perhaps he's also shared his bed," he says to the entire table, getting just the rise out of her that he wanted.
"The Scots just want the same freedoms we enjoy," Claire huffs. "Freedoms we take for granted. They are not the aggressors, we are. It is their land, and we are occupying it."
Which, of course, was not the right thing to say to a room full of Redcoats.
"I believe it is the King's land," Thomas says pointedly. "I must say, madam, I find your sympathies extraordinarily puzzling."
Claire begins to defend herself when another soldier barges in to inform Thomas that there has been an attack, and one man is gravely injured downstairs. Claire runs to treat the man, who must have his arm amputated. She assists the Army surgeon (Nick Farr) with the gruesome amputation. When she returns to the dining room, it's just Randall and Corporal Hawkins (Edmund Digby-Jones) giving him a shave. Lord Thomas has gone to hunt the rebels.
At this point there is a flashback to tender scene where Claire is in a negligee shaving her husband Frank (Tobias Menzies) with his ancestor Jack Randall's razor (the same one!).
After a malicious object lesson in which Randall nearly cuts the soldier's throat as recompense for nicking his face, Claire and Black Jack are left alone in the room. Oddly, he apologizes to Claire for their first inauspicious meeting, where he tried to rape her. "The mere memory leaves me ashamed," he says. He hopes that his honesty will be returned with her honesty. He wants to know who she is and why she's in Scotland. When she begins to recall her Oxfordshire roots, he interjects. He knows she's lying because there are no Beauchamps in Oxfordshire. She asks how he could possibly know that since his roots are in Sussex. Oops. She's not supposed to know that—that's a Frank fact. She covers herself by pointing out his accent. He doesn't seem to buy it, but after a bit, he moves on. Claire tries a new tale: She weaves a yarn about a lover she followed to Scotland, one who turned out to be "a rake and whore-monger." Jack starts doodling on a cloth, asking for the name and rank of her paramour, to which she demurs. He calls her over to look at the drawing. It's of her. He's going to call it "Beautiful Lies."
Claire is fighting a battle she can't win, but Black Jack will make concessions if she spills a bit of dirt about the MacKenzies raising funds on behalf of a Jacobite rebellion. She says she knows nothing.
"I wouldn't believe you if you told me that night is dark and day is bright," he says.
He takes another tact with her. He begins to recall (and we see through flashbacks) the 100 lashes he inflicted on young Jamie (Sam Heughan) for his supposed "crimes." And it's just awful. "I will break you," he tells Jamie.
And it's clear that Randall is relishing every brutal moment of this rehashing. He wanted Jamie to beg, but he would not. At one point, he couldn't even stand on his own two feet, and yet Randall persisted, flaying his back into strips of pulpy flesh. One of his own men fainted. "I think it was in that moment, I decided to bleed him to the bone," Randall tells Claire wistfully, romanticizing the idea of the whip connecting him and Jamie. "That boy and I, we were creating a masterpiece. An exquisite, bloody masterpiece. It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." Unbeknownst to the viewers, Jamie's father, Brian Fraser (Andrew Whipp), is in the crowd watching the flogging of his son. Those who have read the books know the significance of that, but I'm sure it will all be revealed in a future episode.
At some point, Randall acknowledges that he's a monster, and seems saddened by it. Randall's slowly lulling Claire into a false sense of security, repenting his sins.
"The fact that you care what I think gives me some hope for your soul," Claire says. "You can choose the man you wish to be."
"The Rehabilitation of Black Jack Randall," he muses.
Dangling the idea of Inverness like a shiny new toy in front of a tot, Randall grabs Claire's hand—and punches her violently in the stomach! He's knocked the wind out of her and she can't breath!
"I dwell in darkness; darkness is where I belong," he tells her. There will be no rehabilitation today. He commands Corporal Hawkins to give her a few swift kicks in the gut too before Dougal barges in, warning Randall that he doesn't want to start a war with the MacKenzies on MacKenzie soil. Randall gives Claire a reprieve, but not for long: Dougal is ordered to deliver her to Fort William by sundown tomorrow.
Free of the Garrison, Dougal and Claire stop at St. Ninian's Spring to get a drink. Then he asks her point blank if she's a spy for the English or the French. But it's all a ruse on Dougal's part because it's the "Liar's Spring." If you drink from it and prove untrue "it will burn your gizzard out." She drank and he believed her. It's here too that Dougal reveals his plan to Claire: He doesn't have to turn Claire over to Randall if he can turn her from an English woman to a Scot—through marriage. She recoils at the idea of being wed to him. But it's not himself he has in mind, though "the idea of grinding your corn does tickle me," he says. It's young Jamie he has in mind. And because he doesn't have much money to his name and a price on his head, this match is actually beneficial to him too.
They make it back to camp where Jamie, Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix), Ned (Bill Paterson), Rupert (Grant O'Rourke), Angus (Stephen Walters), and Willie (Finn Den Hertog) are waiting. Claire asks to talk to Jamie about Dougal's plan for them to be married.
"Isn't there someone else you're interested in?" (meaning Laoghaire, who she saw Jamie kissing in the alcove at Castle Leoch). He says, "Am I promised? No. I'm not much prospect for a wife."
"Doesn't it bother you that—I'm not a virgin?" Claire asks Jamie.
"Well...No," he answers. "As long as it doesna bother you that I am. I reckon one of us should ken what they're doing." Then he grins and walks back to the others.
Claire doesn't have much choice in the matter, and storms back to the camp with the signed marriage contract, grabs a bottle of whisky (presumably), and stomps off to prepare for her wedding (as in "get roaring drunk").
Flashback: Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Frank (Tobias Menzies) are happily strolling down a London street. Suddenly, Frank stops in the middle of the road and, with a smile, asks Claire if she is ready. Puzzled, Claire wonders what she should be ready for, and turns as Frank nods toward the City of Westminster's Registry Office, where a newly married couple are standing on the steps posing for newlywed photos. Claire is astonished. "Now? What about your parents? They're waiting at the restaurant!" Frank persuades her with little trouble, and finally asks "Will you marry me?" "Of course," says Claire, kissing him . . .
"You may kiss your bride . . ." intones a Scottish voice, and suddenly, Claire is tentatively kissing Jamie (Sam Heughan) at the end of a candlelit wedding ceremony.
Later, she is sitting in their room in the inn, with most of her wedding finery discarded, and musing over how different this wedding was from her wedding to Frank and how at some point, one chooses to move forward with their life. Jamie enters the room, and as the door opens, the sounds of merriment can be heard below. Claire notes that the wedding party is still going strong, and Jamie hesitantly observes that "they will keep it up, until we make it . . . official." Claire looks down, and mutters that its a wonder that they arent watching. "Only Rupert and Angus," observes Jamie, and at Claire's startled glance, he tells her that it was "just a wee joke." "You're a regular Bob Hope," she sighs."Was he a funny man?" Jamie looks about, at a loss, and Claire suddenly suggests a drink. Jamie offers a gallant toast: "To a lady of grace, a woman of strength, and a bride of astonishing beauty — my wife, Claire Fraser." Jamie sips his drink, but Claire downs her in a single gulp, earning a raised eyebrow and a refill. She tosses back the second glass, ignoring Jamie's raised glass, and obligingly, he pours yet another glass. After her third glass, he realizes that she is drinking from nervousness, and reassures her that he has no intention of forcing himself on her. She has questions, and first and foremost, she wants to know why he agreed to marry her. "I didn't have much of a choice . . . but you!" "I dinna have much of a choice, either," admits Jamie.
Flashback to the day before: In the stable, Dougal (Graham McTavish) and Ned (Bill Paterson) are explaining to Jamie and Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) that Claire needs to be married to a Scottish husband to become a Scottish citizen and to therefore avoid being harshly questioned by Black Jack Randall. Ned is very clear the marriage must be consummated, either with actual witnesses or at least witnesses in the same building. Jamie is taken aback, and demands to know if Claire is aware of the particulars. Dougal shrugs off the question, indicating that Claire doesnt have a choice. Murtagh looks questioningly at Dougal and observes that he didn't think that Dougal believed in rape. "Not rape . . . persuasion," purrs Dougal, but then Dougal warns Jamie that the marriage must be consummated, with no secret agreements where they say they have, but they haven't. Dougal goes on to say that it shouldn't be difficult, and that with Claire's figure, he wouldn't mind having sex with her himself. Jamie angrily tells Dougal that if Claire is to become his wife, then he would thank Dougal to stop talking about her like she was a common whore. Dougal reminds him that Claire has already bravely taken a few blows from Randall, but asks him to consider what Randall may do to her if he gets his hands on her again. Jamie turns away, considering . . .
Claire smiles at Jamie. "So, you married me to keep me safe?" she asks him, and he agrees, with a small smile. Then seriously, he tells her, "You have my name and my family, my clan and, if necessary, the protection of my body as well."
Claire comes to sit next to him on the bed, gazing at him consideringly, and holding his hand gently. Jamie gently leans in for a kiss, but nervously, Claire forestalls him, stammering, "Tell me about your family!" He stops and chuckles. "How many generations back?" he asks wryly. Relaxing, Jamie begins to tell her about his mother and father, and how they eloped and were married. They spend the next several hours drinking, talking and getting to know each other for the first time. Jamie charms her with his storytelling. Suddenly, the door bursts open, and Angus (Stephen Walters) and Rupert (Grant O'Rourke) are in the doorway, sent by Dougal to see if they have consummated their marriage, yet. Angus declares that they haven't, "they still have their clothes on!" he exclaims as Jamie shoos them out the door.
Claire asks Jamie, "And they're related to you?" and he replies, "Rupert only ... distant cousin."
Claire giggles nervously at Jamie's return, and there is a moment of silence as they both consider the next step. Taking a deep breath, Claire suggests that it is getting late, and perhaps they should go to bed. "To bed . . . or to sleep?" inquires Jamie carefully. "Wellll . . . ." Claire says consideringly, smiling at Jamie. Jamie offers to help her take her corsets off, and begins to unlace her. Quickly, the many layers are discarded, leaving Claire in her shift as Jamie gently caresses her. "My turn," she whispers, reaching for his kilt. They begin to kiss passionately, and she draws back, surprised. "Where did you learn to kiss like that?" she asks. "I said I was a virgin, not a monk," he tells her. "If I need guidance, I'll ask." He turns her around so that her back is to him and begins to fondle her. She turns to face him, and they collapse onto the bed, not bothering to finish undressing. In his eagerness, he does not realize that he is crushing her, and she whispers, urging him to a slightly different position. In a moment, its over, leaving them both gasping for breath. As they lay back, catching their breath, they exchange tentative smiles, and Claire asks him, curiously, if it was like he thought it would be. "Almost," he admits. "I thought . . . " he breaks off, embarrassed, and Claire encourages him to tell her what he had imagined, promising not to laugh. He tells her that he didn't realize it was done face-to-face. "I thought it was done the back way . . . like horses!" Claire cannot contain her giggles, and even Jamie starts to laugh. He asks her if she liked it. She lowers her eyes, not answering immediately. A disappointed look crosses Jamie's face, and he murmurs "Murtagh was right about that, then." Confused, Claire asks, "Murtagh?" Jamie tells her that Murtagh told him "that women generally do not care for it. He . . . and Rupert. And Ned. They had a lot of advice on the subject last night," he shrugs, and glumly sits on the edge of the bed. After a moment, Claire sits up and tells him, softly, "I did like it, Jamie."
Crossing the room, she is suddenly struck by the fact that she is both a bigamist and an adulteress. Shaking the thought from her head, she declares she is going down to fetch some food. Jamie tries to stop her, but she steps through the door in only her shift, forgetting the crowd downstairs. As she appears at the top of the stairs, she is taken aback by the raucous cheers and greetings of the MacKenzie clansmen, who have been celebrating Jamie's marriage with enthusiasm. Suddenly realizing her state of undress, she quickly retreats back to the room, leaving Jamie to good-naturedly bear the brunt of the clansmens lewd comments as he gathers some food and wine to take back to the room.
As Jamie starts back upstairs, he hears Dougal voice, softly, under the laughter of the other men: "Ye didn't thank me," reminding Jamie that he was the one that has provided Jamie with a bride. Jamie considers him for a moment and then tells him, "Thank you — truly." Dougal warns him that he shouldn't be too eager to run back to his bride, because, as Jamie tells Claire later, it gives her too much power over him. As Claire and Jamie eat together, he tells her what Dougal has said, and she asks him what his response was. "I told him I was completely under your power and happy to be there," he replies. He brings more whiskey, and as he tops up her glass, he reaches out with his other hand to gently touch her hair. Involuntarily, she flinches and he moves away, disappointed. She catches herself and smiles at him, and he returns, leaning on the back of her char and contemplating her hair. "Mo nighean donn," he murmurs, and when she asks what he means, he tells her it means "my brown haired lass." She dismisses her hair color as dull, but Jamie thinks it beautiful. Tentatively, he caresses her bare shoulder, but she self-consciously pulls up her shawl and, searching for another topic of conversation, sees his kilt crumpled on the floor and notes that he had a new kilt for the occasion. "Those are Fraser colors," he explains.
Flashback to the previous day: Murtagh presents Jamie with a kilt with the Fraser colors, and when Jamie asks where he found it, Murtagh tells him that it belonged to the widow of a Fraser who lived about five miles away. He tells Jamie that the widows wants the kilt back, and grumbles that he almost didn't bring it anyway, as there are so many Redcoats in the village. Jamie says he knows, thats why hes not collecting his own wedding clothes, but Murtagh is skeptical and worried:
"What do you think will happen, when you prance out of here with red hair, your size and wearing Fraser colors? You may as well paint a target on your back."
Jamie tells him that he only plans to get married once, and he wants to do so in a way that would make his mother proud. Murtagh shakes his head ruefully. Jamie asks him what he thinks of Claire, and Murtagh tells him that she'll do. When Jamie asks if his mother would approve, Murtagh is gruff, but then asks if Jamie still has the broach. As Murtagh runs his finger over the broach, he tells Jamie that his mother had a sweet smile, and that Claire's smile was just as sweet.
Claire is surprised by Jamie's story about Murtagh, saying she wouldn't have expected anything quote so romantic. Jamie replied, "Still waters run deep, ye ken." She asks if he is a Fraser or a MacKenzie, and Jamie states his full name: "Murtagh FitzGibbons Fraser". Jamie then goes on to describe his negotiations with Dougal over the wedding . . .
Flashback to the previous day: Jamie has three demands before he marries Claire. Dougal is impatient, declaring that it would be easier just to kill them both. Jamie is adamant: First, that they be wed properly, in a church, before a priest . . .
Dougal and Willie (Finn Den Hertog) rustle up a priest, Father Andrew Gow (Kevin Mains), a rather sickly specimen of a man, and drags him to the cold, tumble-down church. The priest nevertheless refuses to marry Jamie and Claire without the banns being read. Exasperated, they pull a sword on the priest and threaten him, but he has a small knife of his own, and isn't afraid to use it. When they point out that he is outnumbered, he cannily observes that he is the only priest, so they can't kill him if they want a marriage ceremony. The priest goes on to protest that he must follow the law of reading the banns. Dougal almost explodes, but the Willie stops him, and begins to reason with the priest, and they enter into a spirited argument of doctrine, law and Biblical intent. After a few exchanges, Dougal, impatient, finally threatens to kill the priest, and the priest admits that he would rather die in hell, because it would be warmer than the miserable cold of that church. Dougal strikes a bargain: If the priest performs the ceremony the next day, he will provide windows for the church . . .
Jamie finishes the story for Claire: "And Dougal said the wee man didn't skip a beat before asking what time he wanted the ceremony to begin." They laugh, and as she offers him a tidbit of food, he takes the food away and tenderly kisses her wrist. "What were your other conditions?"
Flashback to the previous day:
Rupert and Angus have been tasked with obtaining a wedding ring. They locate the village blacksmith Torin (Frank Gilhooley), who also fashions jewelry, and strike a bargain with him to make a ring out of a key that Jamie has given them. The blacksmith agrees, saying that it will be ready next week, but Angus demands that the key be ready that day. "It'll cost ye," the blacksmith says, and Rupert pays up.
Claire admires her ring, but asks Jamie, "The key to what?" Jamie shrugs and says that it was just something that he had in his sporran. "What was your third condition?" she asks, and he turns and smiles broadly at her. "I left that to Ned," he laughs.
Flashback to the previous day: Ned has been tasked with obtaining a wedding dress. He visits the village brothel, thinking that the women may have a pretty dress he can buy or borrow. The residents are delighted to see him, and parade various frocks for him to choose from, as well as merrily offering their own services. The madam, Isabella (Nina Gilhooly), shoos them away, and tells Ned that she had had a client who had a dress made for his wife, but then was short of money to pay for his services at the brothel, and paid with the dress instead. She notes that it hasn't been worn before, which makes it a perfect dress for a bride. Ned pulls out his purse to pay for the dress, and the girls, excited by the sight of so much money, immediately throw themselves on him. The madam suggests that they could offer him some entertainment while she sees to having the dress wrapped up for him, and he eagerly agrees.
Claire laughs outloud and accuses Jamie of making things up, but he tells him that Ned related the story himself, blushing all the while. "He even brought the strumpet Mairi (Rachel McCreath) to the wedding, did you not see her?" Claire is surprised, but admits that she didn't really pay attention. Jamie then asks her what she had been up to all day. She laughs self-consciously, and then holds up the bottle of whiskey suggestively.
Flashback to earlier in the day: Murtagh throws back the covers of the bed, revealing a disheveled Claire, who had drunk herself into oblivion the night before at the prospect of marriage. The the innkeeper's wife (Gowan Calder) is disapproving of Claire's obviously hangover.
Jamie asks if she remembers anything about her wedding, and she assures him that she does, but also ruefully admits that she had a monstrous hangover. He tells her that he remembers every moment, every second . . .
Jamie comes out of the church, dressed in a fine kilt and coat, to meet Claire in the churchyard, surrounded by admiring MacKenzies and curious villagers. She stands very still, and the innkeeper's wife, acting as her maid, removes her cloak, revealing Claire in a stunningly beautiful dress of richly embroidered pale grey and mossy green. "It was as if the sun came out," he tells her of his first sight of her. He bows low to her and whispers, "Your servant, madam." In a moment of panic, Claire blurts out, "I can't marry you, I don't even know your name!" Jamie smiles, and introduces himself, slowly emphasizing each name: "It's Fraser — James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser." She stares at him for a moment, and then puts her hand out for a handshake. "Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp," she responds politely. He takes her hand and holds it gently, and as they exchange a gaze, Dougal gruffly breaks in, with the suggestion that "if you two are quite finished, let's get on with it". Claire turns to enter the church, suddenly glancing down at her hand to see Frank's wedding ring. Slowly, she draws it off, and slips it down the tight bodice of her dress. They exchange their vows in the candlelit church, Jamie gazing intently at Claire as he repeats his, and Claire, not meeting his eyes, but looking down at their clasped hands, repeating hers. After the ring is blessed, Jamie slips it on her right ring finger, and she stares at him. Suddenly, Dougal draws his knife, and to Claire's shock, Jamie holds out his arm, wrist up and Dougals sword makes a cut across Jamie's wrist. Before she can make sense out of what is happening, he grasps her wrist and cuts it, too, and Jamie places their cut wrists together. As the blood mingles, Dougal ties their wrists together, and Jamie tells her to repeat the Gaelic words after him, which she does slowly and unsteadily. Afterwards, they kiss and Claire leans in for a lingering kiss, which sparks a look of hope on Jamie's face.
He tells her that the wrist binding is an old Gaelic custom, and the words mean "Ye are Blood of my Blood, and Bone of my Bone. I give ye my Body, that we Two might be One. I give ye my Spirit, 'til our Life shall be Done." Then he says, hesitantly, that the way she kissed him, he thought that maybe she didn't mind so much having to marry him. With a slight smile, she lightly runs her fingers along his shirt-clad arm. Rising, she tells him to stand up, and Take off your shirt. I want to look at you," she says softly. Holding her gaze, he removes his shirt, and slowly Claire circles him, allowing her fingers to brush against him in a lingering, admiring exploration. "Fair's fair — take off yours as well," he says, his voice low. She steps away and removes her shift. Jamie stands, staring, and she asks lightly if he has never seen a naked woman before. "Aye, but not one so close — and not one that's mine." A spark is lit, and their embrace quickly becomes passionate. As she reaches a climax, Jamie is surprised, and asked if that happens every time. "Only if the man is a very good lover," she tells him breathlessly, and she begins to play the aggressor, teaching him, to his delight, the pleasures of a woman who takes an active part in making love. Gasping at the end, he tells her that he thought his heart was going to burst . . .
As Jamie falls asleep, Claire rises, and seeing that there is no more whiskey, she wraps herself in Jamie's plaid and ventures downstairs to the darkened tavern, finally quiet for the evening. As she gathers some food and more drink, Dougal enters the room, and tells her that he has been to visit Captain Randall, to tell him the news of her marriage. "What did he say?" she asks him, curious, and Dougal comments that there's probably even a limit to her tolerance for bad language. He tells her that Randall has "more important things to worry about than chasing after one stray Sassenach, no matter how pretty," and that he knows better than to kidnap Colum's nephew's wife. As she smiles in relief and turns back, he stops her and tells her that he "commends her for doing her duty, but it shouldn't stop her from sampling . . . other . . . pleasures," caressing her chin and lips suggestively. "I find you to be a most singular woman, Claire." She frowns, and reminds him that she is Jamie's wife. She stares at him, aghast, and they are interrupted by Rupert, who comes into the room. Claire takes the opportunity to leave, but before she leaves, she thanks Rupert for his efforts for her that day, "the ring is magnificent!" Rupert, beaming, tells her that she is welcome, and offers her congratulations on her wedding day. She thanks him, and returns to their room, and Rupert observes to Dougal in a low voice and a nod after Claire that "Young Jamie may not have much experience, but that one looks well ridden!" Dougals fist suddenly slams into Dougals face. "Ooof! What did you do that for?!" complains Rupert, and Dougal tersely tells him to look after the horses. When Rupert tells him that he already has, Dougal tells him to do it again. Claire observes the byplay from the shadows of the stairs, and leaves Dougal alone, drinking in the darkened inn.
Back in their room, Claire sits at a table, staring into the fire as Jamie sleeps. He awakens, and seeing her sitting there before the fire, he quietly rises from the bed and pulls something from his sporran. Coming up behind Claire, he drops a single strand of pearls around her neck, startling her. "They're Scotch pearls," he explains. "They belonged to my mother, and now they belong to my wife." As Claire examines them, he tells her that the necklace is one of the few things he has to remind him of his mother, "and they are very precious to me — as are you, Claire," he tells her softly. Wearing nothing but the pearls, she reaches over to kiss him, sits astride him and they make love.
The next morning, Jamie is in a cheerful mood, quickly getting dressed and declaring that he is so hungry that he could take a bite out of her. "I think you've already done that!" she teases him, stretching languorously. He grins quickly and with a leer, tells her that he looks forward to doing it again, too. Claire laughs, and as Jamie leaves, she begins to straighten up their room. Fetching her wedding dress from the floor, she gently shakes it out and is surprised when her gold wedding ring (with Frank) falls out of the bodice and rolls across the floor, lodging in a crack in the floorboards. Carefully, she plucks it up, and slides it on her left ring finger. Sinking to the floor, she holds up both hands, gazing at both rings.
It's morning at the Inverness police station. Detective Collins (John Wark) arrives, and the duty officer Constable Boyle (Gerry McLaughlin) nods meaningfully at the detective's desk, where Frank Randall is waiting, silent and still. The detective rolls his eyes, and mutters to Sgt. McKinney (Alan McHugh), "Today's the day . . . I've let this go on long enough." The officer is sympathetic, and offers the detective a clandestine splash of whiskey as he goes to break the news to Frank that he is very sorry, but there's nothing else that can be done to find his wife. Frank is scathing, and suggests that perhaps the detective should do his job and find her. Offended, the detective points out that they have searched over a hundred square miles of rugged terrains over the past six weeks, conducted over 175 interviews . . . Frank is unimpressed, and demands to know what they have to show for all the efforts. Taking a sip of whiskey for courage, the detective carefully tells Frank that since there is no body, and no evidence of struggle, she probably was not taken against her will . . . suggesting that Claire has run away from Frank. "You personally witnessed a man staring up at her window the night before she disappeared!" the detective exclaims, pointing to a couple of broadsheets on the wall behind him, one offering 1500 pounds for information leading to Claire, and another offering 1000 pounds, with a rough sketch of a Scotsman, for information on the mysterious man that Frank spotted in the rain. Frank admits that he thinks the Highlander is involved in some way, and the detective agrees: "Of course he's involved . . . he's her lover!" Frank pounds his fist on the detective's desk and declares that his wife is not with another man. Looking around the squad room, he realizes that everyone has gone quiet, staring at him. He gathers his coat and leaves . . .
Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) are having a picnic, perched on a cliff overlooking a pleasant green vista. After an awkward apology for implying that Claire has a "vast experience" with men, Jamie asks Claire a question: "Is it usual . . . what it is between us, when I touch you . . when you lie with me?" He caresses her hand as he asks, curious if what he is feeling is ordinary or something special. Claire gently returns the caress, and admits that the feelings are unusual. As they smile at each other, they are startled by an arrow that lands a few feet away. Both Jamie and Claire throw themselves to the ground, and Jamie crawls over to examine the arrow. Laughing, he straightens and beckons his friend, Hugh Munro (Simon Meacock), who has spotted them on the cliff, and greets him with a hearty hug.
Hugh joins them, and Jamie proudly introduces Claire, his wife of two days. After Hugh makes an elaborate bow, he offers a celebratory drink and gifts Claire with a piece of amber, in which a dragonfly is embedded. Jamie goes on to explain that Hugh lost his tongue and was badly burned by the Turks in Algiers when he was captured at sea and refused to convert to the "Musulman religion". In return, several parishes have given Hugh permission to beg within the borders of their parish, as is evidenced by the gaberlunzes, or small metal tags, hanging about his neck like dog tags. Claire is silent in sympathy, and Jamie breaks the momentary silence by asking Hugh what his news is. In a combination of rough sign language and grunts, Hugh tells Jamie that a man named Horrocks wants to meet Jamie and has information that can prove Jamie is innocent of killing one of the guards. Hugh doesn't think Jamie should trust him, but Jamie is anxious to clear his name and return to his home, Lallybroch, with his bride, his Lady Lallybroch.
At the Reverend Wakefield's (James Fleet) house, Frank is despondent. They have a theory that Claire may have gotten lost returning from Craigh na Dun that day, fell in a river, and been swept twenty miles downstream, but even Frank is skeptical. As the Reverend insists that she could have been swept ashore and could be taking refuge in a cave, surviving on fish and frogs, Frank is unconvinced and recognizes it as a very, very unlikely occurance, but the Reverend insists that's possible, since she's had Army survival training. Mrs. Graham and a small boy, Roger, enter the library with tea and biscuits, and the little boy carefully offers the plate of biscuits to the Reverend, then politely asks if he might have one. Indulgently, the Reverend allows him one, laughing and chasing him, as Frank gazes at newspaper clippings describing Claire's disappearance that the Reverend has tacked to a poster. Frank turns down the offer of tea, and leaves in search of something stronger. In the bar, a woman approaches him and calls him Mr. Randall, and says that he can call her Sally. Sally says that she knows a man that has information on Claire's disappearance.
Around the campfire, Rupert is telling a story about a water horse and a builder who is building him a fine hearth so his wife can get warm and cook her fishes, and Jamie and Claire are talking about it being Yuletide/Christmas when they return to Leoch. Suddenly the men become aware of the horses stirring uneasily. Quietly, they signal each other that someone else is near. Jamie whispers to Claire not to look around, and then tells her that when he gives her a signal, she should take a knife and run and hide behind a tree. The group nonchalantly makes stealthy preparations, and suddenly, Jamie shouts to Claire to "Run!". The MacKenzies are attacked and fight back in a brief scuffle. Jamie finds Claire safe afterwards, and explains it was another clan, the Grants, who have only taken a horse and a few supplies.
Eagerly, Frank follows Sally to a meeting site, but finds himself attacked by muggers who have lured him there with the intention of robbing him. and demand the reward he has offered for Claire. As an ex-Army officer, he quickly dispatches the muggers, and continues to beat a hapless mugger in frustration until Sally screeches for him to stop. He turns and grabs her by the throat, demanding if there was ever any information on Claire, and she shakes her head. Later, the Reverend gently urges a despairing Frank to leave Inverness and take up the threads of his life. Claire has left him . . . he must now leave Claire. When Frank asks the Reverend if he believes that Claire has run away with a Highlander, the Reverend quotes Sherlock Holmes and observes that "when you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains -- however improbable -- must be the truth."
The next morning, the MacKenzies are looking for the knife that Claire dropped during the scuffle the evening before. They find it, and Rupert returns it to Claire, who protests that "it's too long and heavy for me!" Rupert chuckles and tells her that the "lasses say that to me all the time," which earns a smile, but Ned Gowan (Bill Paterson) points out that it was foolish to give Claire a knife without teaching her how to use it. The MacKenzies agree that she needs a sgian dhu, a small hidden knife, and a lesson on wielding it follows, as Angus demonstrates the most effective places to stab a man. Claire listens closely.
Frank is packing, preparing to return to Oxford. He sees Clare's suitcase, and opening it, he looks over the neatly folded clothes, and gazes at a small framed picture of Frank and Claire on their wedding day.
Claire and Jamie have found a quiet spot, and are eager to make love. However, in the midst of their lovemaking, they are startled by the unmistakable click of a gun. Frozen, they find themselves captured at gunpoint by two Redcoat deserters.
Harry (James Groom) holds a gun on Jamie, while Arnold (Nicholas Aaron) prepares to rape Claire. Terrified, she still remembers her knife lessons, and pulling her hidden knife free, she stabs Arnold in the back as he falls on her. The distraction is enough for Jamie to surprise Harry, and in short order, both Redcoats are dead, Jamie has scooped Claire up and is dashing away.
As he is taking his leave, Frank overhears an argument between Mrs. Graham and the Reverend. Mrs. Graham is determined that Frank should be made aware of the legends surrounding the circle of stones, but the Reverend doesn't want Frank distressed by these "fantasies" of hers and possibly raise false hope. Frank observes mildly that it's an old house, and their conversation carried. Mrs. Graham tells him about the legends of people who travel through the stones, because the circle of stones mark a place on the earth when the powers of the earth are focused, and for "certain people, on certain days, it allows them to pierce the veil of time." Mrs. Graham believes that Claire traveled to some other time. Frank asks when -- or where -- that might be, but Mrs. Graham says it depends on the individual, and that the legends say that the travelers often return. Frank reflects for a moment, and then announces that he is returning to Oxford. "Did you not hear me? They often return!" insists Mrs. Graham. "I heard you -- but I do not share your beliefs," Frank says, tiredly, and turns to go. As he leaves the bedroom where he has been staying, he gently closes the door -- and leaves Claire's suitcase behind, alone on the bed.
Jamie is distraught with guilt as he holds a shattered Claire, apologizing over and over again for bringng her to that spot without proper guarding. When he notes that her hands are cold, she realizes that she is going into shock. The MacKenzies have heard the shot, and come running to investigate, finding the deserters. Claire desperately tries to rein in her scattered feelings, afraid that if she starts telling Jamie her feelings, she won't be able to keep from telling him the truth about herself. The MacKenzies are grim at the discovery of the bodies, and Dougal (Graham McTavish) declares that "this is what becomes of a man who forsakes his King and country!" They are worried about Jamie meeting Horrocks alone, and declare they will accompany him.
Claire is still in shock from the attack, and doesn't remember riding away from the campsite, but as the MacKenzies make their way through the woods, she realizes that she in angry, and doesn't know why. As the men stop, Jamie explains that it may be dangerous meeting Horrocks, and wants Claire to stay behind, safe, with Willy. Claire tells him to just leave her alone and take Willy and bitterly adds, "I can take care of myself -- I think I've proven that." Jamie grimaces at the tone in her voice, and mutters, "But you needn't prove it again." He promises Claire that he will be back, and she looks at him skeptically, telling him that he shouldn't make promises that he can't keep. He declares that he will return, and extracts a promise from her, in return, that she will stay there. Reluctantly, she promises, and as the men ride away, she suddenly realizes that she's not angry with Jamie or the would-be rapists. Instead, she is angry with herself for forgetting her true purpose -- to return to the stones and to Frank.
Frank's car is racing down the road and he is listening to a radio report on the dealth of General George Patton that morning (December 21, 1945 - 7 weeks after Claire disappeared). He passes a sign pointing to the turn to Craigh na Dun, and a few yards down the road, he stops, considering . . . and then reverses to make the turn . . .
Claire and Willy are waiting in the woods, when Willy announces that he needs to take care of some "personal business." Claire dismisses him casually, telling him to go "fifty yards away and downwind." As Claire idly wanders around the clearning, she tries not to think of the attack. Suddenly, she looks up and sees Craigh na Dun a short distance away -- the place where it all began. She reflects -- she has been Claire Randall, Claire Beauchamp, and Claire Fraser -- and asks herself, "Who do I want to be?" She begins running eagerly across the meadow to the stones . . .
Frank climbs the small hill to the stones, wandering around the circle, half-hoping to find Claire returned to him. Sobbing, he cries out, "Claire . . . where are you!? Claire?!" . . .
Claire, racing to the stones, hears Frank's voice, and cries out "Frank! Wait for me!" Eagerly, she runs up to the large stone, reaching out to the stone and crying Frank's name . . .
Frank hears a faint voice . . . or it could be just the screech of a passing bird . . . but alert, he gazes around. "Claire . . " he whispers, and walks away.
. . . distraught, Claire begins screaming as Redcoats ruthlessly appear and drag her away from the large center stone . . .
Bound, she is tossed in a wagon and taken to Fort Willliam. As the wagon jolts along she plans her upcoming encounter with Black Jack Randall. As they sit in his office, he offers her a drink and congratulates her on her marriage. He tells her he doesn't care if she considers herself English or Scots, notes that she is wearing both of her wedding rings, and wonders why Dougal MacKenzie values her so much that he would bring her into his clan to keep her from talking to him (Randall). Claire shrugs, and they toast "The King." Randall looks at her speculatively, and then observes that he is glad she still acknowledges herself a subject of the king. Piously, Claire declares that the MacKenzies are all loyal subjects, but Randall snorts in disbelief, convinced that they are devoted Jacobites. He draws up a chair, and tells her that he intends to discover her true nature by any means possible. Calmly, Claire sips her wine. "Perhaps you should ask the Duke of Sandringham," she says significantly, earning a surprised sputtering cough from Randall.
Innocently, she looks at Randall, but Randall is disbelieving that Claire, too, is a Sandringham agent. Claire has played a desperate hand, remembering Frank and the Reverend's speculation about Black Jack's secret patron, and based on his violent reaction, she sees that they were correct. As Randall tears off his stained neckcloth, he asks Claire if she knows the Duke. She laughs lightly. "Really, Captain, must you be so obtuse? Is it not clear by now that you and I are both in the employ of the same great and powerful man?" Black Jack does not believe her, sure that Sandringham would have told him, but Claire mocks him gently, asking if he really knows all of the Duke's secrets. He threatens to send a message to the Duke, and Claire amiably agrees, noting that either the Duke will be pleased that Randall has ferretted out his agent . . . or very displeased that Randall has upset his carefully laid plans. She casually reties the neckcloth, spinning a tale that the Duke may retaliate against Black Jack, and withdraw his support, and suggests that Black Jack simply let her go and continue her mission, without the Duke discovering how close he has come to disrupting his efforts on behalf of the King. Black Jack corrects her and suggests that she means "his wife's efforts", and asks if she has met the Duchess. Claire says she has never had the pleasure, but Randall professes skepticism that one of the Duke's agents doesn't know the Duchess. Claire implies that she is in communication with the Duchess by messenger . . . which causes Randall to withdraw a length of rope from his desk and tells her, with a triumphant smile, that there is no Duchess.
Claire realizes that she has been caught in a lie. Tying her up, Randall tells his orderly to stand outside the room and not to respond to any cries that he may hear. Terrified, Claire begins to struggle, but Randall is determined to get the truth out of her. Ripping her bodice open and throwing her face down on the desk, he throws up her skirts in a prelude to rape, but stops to threaten her with his knife, playing the edge of the blade along her breast.
Suddenly, a voice from the window threatens, "I'll thank ye to take your hands off my wife." Startled, both Randall and Claire look up to find Jamie perched in the window -- with a gun trained on Randall.
Outlander left us hanging on a windowsill literally at the end of Episode 108, "Both Sides Now". At the end of that episode, Jamie (Sam Heughan) appears in the window of Black Jack Randall's (Tobias Menzies) office while he is preparing to rape Claire (Caitriona Balfe). After a long, long break, Episode 109, "The Reckoning," does not pick up where you would expect.
The episode's beginning mirrors that of Episode 101, "Sassenach". The Scottish landscape, the narration that focuses on what has happened in the past (or is it the future?) are all there. The big difference is that it is Jamie's turn to do some reflecting on what has come to pass. At the end of the monologue, the expectation is that the opening credits will start, but instead we are thrown back into the present story.
Jamie is meeting with Horrocks (Lochlann O'Mearain) to see if he knows something that will clear Jamie of the charges against him. Jamie is not completely focused on the meeting, possibly thinking about what has happened with Claire and himself at the glade. Dougal (Graham McTavish) pulls him back into focus. There is doubt that Horrocks is trustworthy and worth the coin being paid for his information, considering that he is an Redcoat soldier deserter. After threatening to leave the meeting, Dougal gives him the payment. However, Horrocks claims that Captain Jonathan Randall a.k.a. Black Jack was the one who killed the sergeant. Jamie knows that he can never use that information to clear his name because who would believe that Black Jack shot one of his own men.
As Horrocks leaves, Willie (Finn den Hertog) arrives on a horse frantically. He tells the men that Claire was captured by the Redcoats and taken south. The group rides off to save Claire. The scene fades to black and the opening credits begin.
The title sequence shows us how Jamie dresses in a kilt and his other garments in the morning. This is something that fans have wanted demonstrated for a while. It is nice to see an abbreviated version of it.
We jump to the fort where Claire is being held. A soldier is posted at the water's edge. Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) sneaks up from behind and pulls the soldier back into the darkness. With the soldier gone, Jamie comes up from a hiding spot and joins Murtagh in interrogating the soldier about the English woman's whereabouts. It takes threatening to cut part or all of his manhood off to get a location. Once the soldier confesses, Jamie leaves to signal to the others that the coast to clear, while Murtagh says thanks and knocks the soldier out. Angus (Stephen Walters) and Rupert (Grant O'Rourke) come in to the scene. Rupert stays behind with the soldier, while the other three venture further into the fort.
Jamie knocks out another tower guard before finding a way down to Black Jack's office. He readies his gun and repels down the castle wall. Halfway down, he hears Claire scream. He makes it to the window, takes out his gun, cocks it, and then opens the window's shutters. He sees Claire bent over the desk, Black Jack behind her. "I'll thank you to take your hands off my wife," Jamie says. A look of relief comes over Claire's face. "Good God," Black Jack says in reply and a look of elation comes across his face. Black Jack comments on his handiwork on Jamie's back and asks if he can see his scars. "It would be the last thing you ever saw," Jamie replies. Claire madly tries to tell Jamie to kill Black Jack, but this enrages Black Jack even more. He brings her back off the desk with a knife to her neck. Black Jack still endeavors to rape Claire, now with Jamie watching. Jamie relinquishes the gun. Claire implores Jamie to leave as Black Jack grabs Jamie's gun. As soon as Black Jack drops his knife and Claire, he fires the gun. The gun does not fire; it is empty. Jamie takes the opportunity to grab Black Jack and knock him out on the desk. As Jamie and Claire are about to leave the room, Jamie narrates about why he did not kill Black Jack then (a bit of foreshadowing).
As Claire and Jamie try to escape, they run into soldiers and the alarm is rung. As a line of soldiers are about to fire on them, a huge explosion goes off, knocking the soldiers down as well as Claire and Jamie. To escape the castle, they jump into the water from a high wall.
The episode moves along to the next morning with the group riding fast to escape whomever may be after them. They stop along a riverbed for a brief rest when they are about two hours out from The Drover. Jamie takes Claire to the side to have a discussion with her about what has just happened and to demand an apology. Claire is clearly flabbergasted by this demand considering what she has been through. The fight escalates enough that there is slapping and grabbing. This is clearly two strong-willed people fighting when each thinks they are the ones who are right. Jamie thinks Claire ran off to get back at him for what happened at the glade (in the previous episode). Jamie thinks Claire should obey him at all times; Claire does not want to be thought of as property. It is only when it gets to the point of calling each other horrible names (as in "fucking bastard" and "foul-mouthed bitch") do they both realize what they are doing to each other. It ends with them in each other's arms, apologizing, forgiving each other, and a narration by Jamie saying he loved her even before then, that was falling in love.
They arrive back at The Drover and join the rest of the clan that stayed behind. Claire is given the cold shoulder when she tries to speak to them and apologize. She instead decides to turn in for the night. Before Jamie joins her, Murtagh says that she does not understand what she almost cost them. It is Jamie's place to make her realize that.
Claire is already under the covers when Jamie arrives in their room. She wonders if the men will ever speak to her again. Jamie assures her that they will. Claire asks Jamie to come to bed, but Jamie says they have a matter to settle before that happens. Jamie pulls off his belt and asks Claire to raise her shift. Jamie says, "I can tell ye from my own experience that a good hiding makes ye understand things in a more serious light." Thus ensues another fight that has Claire trying to escape Jamie's clutches as he tries to whip her rear with his belt. Claire says, "I will not let you beat me!" and Jamie replies, "Oh, you won't? Well, I doubt you've much to say about it. You're my wife, like it or not." She counters with, "I'll scream!" and he says, "Likely. If not before, certainly during. I expect they'll hear ye in the next village; you've got good lungs." She fights back enthusiastically, calls him a "sadist" (which he doesn't understand the meaning of), but nonetheless gets a good spanking for her mistake.
The next morning, Claire comes down for breakfast embarrassed and unable to sit comfortably. She is still very mad at Jamie. The clan leaves to go back to Castle Leoch.
The married couple arrives to cheers and congratulations in the Great Hall, especially from Mrs. Fitz (Annette Badland). The commotion stops as Letitia (Aislin McGuckin) and Colum (Gary Lewis) arrive in the Hall. Letitia says her congratulations but Colum only says congratulations to Lady Broch Turrach (Claire), nothing to Jamie.
On the way to meet with Colum in his study, Jamie runs into Laoghaire (Nell Hudson). She is teary-eyed and wants an explanation about the surprise marriage. Jamie promises one at a later time.
Jamie arrives in Colum's study in the company of Ned Gowan (Bill Paterson) and Dougal. Colum wants to know what happened at Fort William. Colum is also wise to the other money they collected when they were out on their rent trip, the funds raised for Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite cause. Dougal and Colum butt heads on the issue. Unfortunately, Dougal lets it slip that he "ensured his (Colum's) bloodline." Hamish is not Colum's son, but Dougal's.
As Dougal and Ned leave, Jamie is asked to stay. Colum confronts him on his marriage to the "Sassenach" and his plans to have Jamie inherit the clan and the castle are thwarted.
In their castle room, Jamie and Claire discuss the revelation that Dougal is Hamish's father. Jamie sees her getting ready for bed and slipping under the covers. He starts to undress, but Claire asks "What are you doing?" Jamie mutters, "I thought..." and Claire says "Think again." He's clearly still in the dog house.
The episode shifts to the next day as Angus and Rupert are confronting Willie on his betrayal. It is evident that Willie told Colum about the other Jacobite money. Jamie and Murtagh arrive and break the struggle up. Jamie is also asked where is loyalty lies and he pretty much admits to being faithful to the Laird. Dougal arrives and it becomes clear where everyone else's loyalty lies. The once tight-knit group of men are split.
Later on, Murtagh and Jamie have a conversation by the castle wall (as they're watering the bricks). Murtagh asks Jamie to run away with Claire to avoid the split that is forming in the clan. But with a wife now, Jamie does not want to run away and have no shelter or any way to provide for his wife.
Jamie meets with Colum again to ask him to make peace with Dougal for the good of the Clan. Jamie asks Colum to give Dougal back the Jacobite gold. There is a jump in the timeline to Dougal and Ned joining in on the meeting. Colum warns Dougal of his treason, both to the crown and the Clan, but gives him the gold anyway. Colum asks Ned to invite the Duke of Sandringham (Simon Callow) to a dinner in his honor.
The episode then flashes back to the scenes that opened it. Jamie is on the riverbank and a blonde approaches. It is Laoghaire who has found him out for a better explanation of why he married Claire. It is clear that Laoghaire does not even really care that he is married, as she will take what she can get from Jamie. He refuses her, saying, "No. I made a vow, and I'll no break it, even for a lass as bonny as you."
The concluding scene is in Jamie and Claire's room. Jamie has decided to end his "dog house" situation with Claire. He realizes that he cannot treat Claire like any other wife. She is special, with a strong will. Their relationship has to be different. He swears to Claire his loyalty and to never to hurt her physically again (like the fielty pledge at The Gathering). Claire has no reaction to this, but you can see that she struggles with her feelings for Jamie. She says that she doesn't want to live separately. Jamie explains the origin of her wedding ring, made from a key to his home, Lallybroch. They begin to kiss and make love on the floor. While Claire is on top, she pulls the dirk on Jamie and threatens to cut his throat if he ever threatens her again. The sex ends successfully and the two lay in each other arms. Jamie asks what "fucking" and "sadist" means, as Claire used those words in the argument by the river bed and when he was about to spank her. She explains their meaning and he says that even though it's not very flattering to him, he can't fault her observations. As Jamie rises to fetch something to eat, Claire finds an "ill wish" under the bed. Claire asks who would do such a thing. The episode cuts off with Jamie saying "Laoghaire".
S01-E10: By the Pricking of My Thumb — Directed by Richard Clark; Written by Ira Steven Behr
Claire (Caitriona Balfe) rouses from her slumber to the pleasure of Jamie's (Sam Heughan) head between her legs. A knock sounds at the door, but Jamie refuses to stop until he's finished. The knocking continues until Jamie finally gives in and opens to door to Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix), who enters and chastises Jamie for allowing his marriage duties to make him sluggish. Jamie is buttoning up his trews (the FIRST time we see Jamie in pants)! Spotting Claire still in bed experiencing 'afterglow', Murtagh halts his teasing and informs Jamie of the Duke of Sandringham's (Simon Callow) arrival. Jamie is excited by the news, knowing that the Duke has always been partial to him and maybe instrumental in lifting the charges against him. Claire reveals she is familar with the Duke, but makes Jamie and Murtagh promise not to press her on how she knows about the Duke. Jamie assumes she is referring to the Duke's "fondness for other men," but she surprises them both by revealing the Duke has connections to Black Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies). In light of Claire's information, Murtagh believes it is best to confer with Ned Gowan (Bill Paterson) before going to see the Duke. Jamie agrees with Murtagh and turns to Claire, excited by the opportunity to clear his name and return home to Lallybroch, where he believes they will truly be happy.
Murtagh and Jamie meet with Ned, who informs Jamie there is much to overcome in order to clear his name since it would be his word against that of a British officer. However, Ned believes they can use the Duke's connection to Captain Randall to their advantage and suggests drawing up a petition of complainant accusing Black Jack of crimes against the Scottish people, including Claire. If Jamie can convince the Duke to deliver the document to the Lord President of the Court, Randall could face a court martial, or at the very least, be reassigned from Scotland. With the Captain in disgrace, Ned could take Jamie's case to court and win him a pardon.
Claire heads to the kitchen, where she finds Laoghaire (Nell Hudson) presenting her grandmother, Mrs. Fitz, a new apron. Claire asks to speak to Laoghaire alone and Mrs. Fitz agrees, excusing herself and the other women from the kitchen. Once alone, Claire produces the ill-wish she found under her bed and asks Laoghaire if it looks familiar. When the girl does not readily admit to being the culprit, Claire softens a bit and acknowledges Laoghaire's feelings for Jamie and why she would direct her jealously at Claire. She also reassures Laoghaire there was no conspiracy to take Jamie from her, although he was not hers to begin with. Laoghaire is stirred by Claire's words, proclaiming Jamie to be hers and that Claire stole him away. She continues her verbal rampage, telling Claire she feels sorry for Jamie because he is married to a "cold English bitch." Claire reaches her limit and slaps Laoghaire, but quickly apologizes for doing so. The girl finally admits to placing the ill-wish under the bed in an attempt to make Jamie hate Claire as much as she does and also shocks her by revealing it was Geillis (Lotte Verbeck) who sold it to Laoghaire. Claire leaves the kitchen, but not before warning Laoghaire to stay away from her and Jamie.
Sometime later, Claire traipses through the woods, guided by the light of a lantern. She hears a voice in the distance and blows out her light before moving closer. Claire spots Geillis, who is clothed only in a flowing piece of fabric, as she dances around a fire while chanting. Claire recalls the dance of the Druids she witnessed with Frank (Tobias Menzies) at Craig na Dun as Geillis writhes around, tearing the cloth from her chest, and holds her visibly pregnant stomach. She finally collapses to the ground and calls out for Claire to come out from her hiding spot. Claire approaches Geillis, offering her congratulations on her friend's pregnancy. Geillis thanks her, calling it a "special secret," one that even Arthur does not know. Claire wonders how that could be and Geillis reveals she has a lover and names Dougal MacKenzie as her child's father. She also reveals the ritual Claire witnessed was her calling on Mother Nature, asking for her and Dougal's freedom. Claire agrees to keep the baby and what she witnessed a secret, understanding the severity of Geillis' situation.
The pair make their way back through the woods as daylight approaches and Geillis promises Clarie she had no idea the ill-wish she gave Laoghaire was meant for her. Geillis also shows off a lovely pearl bracelet she recieved from Dougal, which was actually given to him by the Duke of Sandringham and meant for his wife Maura. Claire is surprised to hear Dougal is married and learns his wife has been secluded at their estate for years. Claire wonders how Dougal came to receive a gift from the Duke since he is there visiting Colum (Gary Lewis) and Geillis informs her that it is really Dougal he is fond of. Her words spark a memory of Claire listening to Frank and the Reverend Wakefield discussing, not only Captain Randall's connection to the Duke, but also the Duke being a suspected Jacobite. Claire's attention is soon drawn by the cry of a baby in the distance, but Geillis stops her as she tries to move towards it. They are standing near a fairy hill and the child is suspected of being a changeling, which is left in place of a baby that is stolen away and is known because it does not thrive or grow. Claire dismisses Geillis' words as "superstitious nonsense" and makes her way towards the child, away from Geillis who will not interfere.
Claire scours the woods for the child and finds it nestled in a tree, but she is too late and the baby has already passed on. She lifts the child, and cradling it to her chest, sits next to the tree, repeating her apologies to the baby. Claire remains unmoved for sometime until Jamie arrives, directed to his wife by Geillis. Kneeling beside her, Jamie commends Claire on her kind heart, but echoes Geillis' warnings of her not needing to interfere. Taking the baby from Claire, Jamie returns it to the tree as she wonders if he too believes in fairies and all that other nonsense. Jamie tries to explain to her that it is not about him, but about the comfort it may bring the parents to believe it is a changeling that died and that their own baby is alive and living among the fairies. Claire nods in acknowledgement and asks Jamie to take her home.
Back at Castle Leoch, Claire looks over the document Ned has prepared to pass along to the Duke as Jamie explains its contents. Claire hesitates to sign, but eventually takes the quill and signs "Claire Elizabeth Fraser" beneath her husband's name.
Claire, unaware to Jamie, secures an audience with the Duke, who is baffled by the notion of a complaint against Captain Randall and asks to see the "abominable document." Claire cannot produce it since she does not have it and informs the Duke of Jamie's upcoming visit, document in hand. The Duke seats himself across from Claire and tells her that though he is quite fond of Jamie, he must refuse their proposal. Claire, not easily dissuaded, acknowledges that it is not an easy task to turn against a friend, but the Duke is quick to dismiss the notion that he is close to Captain Randall, claiming he hardly knows him. The Duke tries to dismiss Claire several times without success. He reveals his full name: Clarence Marylebone, Third Duke of Sandringham. Claire eventually relents, but not before asking the Duke one last question: "How much Jacobite gold did Dougal MacKenzie pass along to you?" After a rather poetic, but threatening observation about Claire's neck, the Duke concedes and agrees to hear Jamie's grievances as the pair toast to "petitions of complaint."
Claire returns to Castle Leoch as Angus (Stephen Walters) and Rupert bring her news of the death of Dougal's wife Maura and his subsequent drunken rage. Wondering how she may help, Rupert informs her that Colum wishes her to soothe him with a sedative. Claire arrives in the hall and joins Colum, Ned, and the others to witnesses Dougal brandishing his sword and screaming for those advancing on him to stay back. Angus moves from the group to retrieve a bottle of alcohol to pour the sedative into, but is momentarily stopped by the threat of Dougal's sword pointed in his direction. Dougal eventually lets Angus pass and he continues his walk back to Claire, who slips the sedative into the bottle before handing it back off to Angus. Dougal's rage flares up again and is once more on the attack until Angus steps forward and raises the bottle to "the fair Maura." His words pacify Dougal, who takes the bottle and downs a fair amount of drink. Dougal begins to feel the effects of the sedative after another long swig and struggles to keep his balance before collapsing on the ground. Claire rushes over to check on him and Ned tells the other men not to leave Dougal sprawled out on the ground. They gather around Dougal, lift him up, and begin to carry him from the hall. Before taking his leave, Colum commands them to watch over Dougal, who will be dealt with when he sobers.
In the courtyard, Claire runs into Geillis, who wonders if Claire has heard the news about Dougal's wife. Geillis is in a celebratory mood, believing her summoning worked, allowing her and Dougal to be together. Claire is skeptical, not only that Maura's untimely passing had anything to do with the summoning she witnessed in the woods, but also because Geillis is still married to Arthur. At this, Geillis simply glances at Claire and with a gentle, but suspicious "humph" takes her leave.
Jamie and Murtagh arrive at Millwood House to see the Duke as members of the MacDonald clan are leaving. The Duke, now seated in the chair Claire occupied during her visit, peruses the petition drawn up by Ned as Jamie and Murtagh stand before him. Putting down the paper, the Duke muses that he had no idea his acquaintance with Randall was such common knowledge and Murtagh assures him that, not only are they aware of it, but that there is no doubt it is also whispered at "your majesty's" court. The Duke quickly corrects that is is their majesty's court and commands his note taker to leave the room. When the three are left alone, the Duke damns Captain Randall for making the cover up of his misdeeds a full time occupation. He agrees to help Jamie, but they must proceed with caution so that the Duke does not harm himself along with Captain Randall. Pulling Jamie aside, the Duke asks for his favor to be returned in kind and reveals he was challenged to a duel by Andrew MacDonald for an unpaid debt. Although he knows there is tension between the two clans, he wants Jamie to act as his second, assuring him that is is an "affair of honor" with shots exchanged, but no harm to the combatants.
As Jamie and Murtagh prepare to leave, Murtagh warns Jamie to stay out of the Duke's affairs, but Jamie throws it in his companion's face that it was Murtagh's idea to go to the Duke. He also knows that he cannot back out and lose his chance to go home. When Murtagh cannot swear to another opportunity to clear his name arising in the near future, Jamie tells him that this is a risk he must take.
A celebration begins at Castle Leoch with the Duke standing with Colum and Dougal overlooking the hall. Claire and Jamie enter and keep to the side as bagpipes begin to play and a large, beautifully decorated meat pie is escorted into the hall and placed in front of the Duke. Colum offers a dagger to his guest, who makes the first ceremonial cut, which is met with applause from the crowd. Colum raises a glass to the Duke and also toasts to Scotland and the king, to which the Duke has a subdued reaction. The feast commences and Jamie brings Claire over to meet the Duke, unaware of their earlier meeting. The pair play along until Claire sends Jamie to fetch her a drink and quickly turns on the Duke, calling him a bastard for involving Jamie in his duel, threatening him should anything happen to Jamie. The Duke commends her for her concern, but reminds Claire that he will be in the line of fire and, should anything happen to him, their petition will never reach London. With a smile and slight bow of the head, he leaves Claire to take his place between Colum and Dougal at the table.
Geillis is also in attendance at the celebration and seated with her husband Arthur. The man appears to be in distress, rising from his seat before collapsing in the middle of the hall. A woman cries out, drawing Claire's attention. She and others rush to Arthur's side as he begins to foam at the mouth. Believing him to be choking, Claire calls for him to be turned on his side, but it is to no avail. Claire looks about for Geillis, whose attention is on Dougal, who wears the slightest of smiles on his face. Colum turns to his brother and notices his gaze is fixed on Geillis, who finally breaks the silence with her screams and runs towards Arthur. It is in that moment Claire notices the smell of bitter almonds coming from Arthur, which she recognizes as a scent associated with cyanide, and realizes what has killed Arthur. Claire rises from her spot beside the body and goes to Jamie's side as Geillis continues to cry over her husband.
A new day emerges and Jamie joins the Duke at his residence for the duel with Andrew MacDonald (Jim Sweeney). Jamie stands back to back with Alexander MacDonald (James Young) and the two are instructed to walk five paces away from each other and mark their spots with swords. The Duke and Andrew MacDonald take their places and fire upon each other at the drop of a handkerchief. The Duke extends an apology to MacDonald, who accepts, but his sons Neil (Andrew Rothney), Rob (Paul Tinto), and Alexander (James Young)) do not keep their displeasure about the matter to themselves. Jamie calls for the MacDonald boys to hold their tongues and their father wishes them to do the same. They do not heed their father's warnings and continue to hurl insults at Jamie and the Duke as the two parties go their seperate ways. Jamie retaliates and their verbal spar turns to actual violence with Jamie's suggestion that the MacDonalds only "learn of love by rutting with their mothers." The MacDonald boys attack Jamie, stabbing him in the side, but he is able to render each one immobile before falling to the ground himself. The Duke approaches Jamie, but offers no assistance and implores him to tell Claire his injuries are not the Duke's fault. The Duke retrieves the petition of complaint from Jamie's person and leaves him wounded in the field with Andrew MacDonald and his injured sons.
Claire tends to Jamie's wounds in her surgery, but offers nothing more than a stern glance to her husband. He tries to reassure her that it is nothing worth brooding over and that there is cause for celebration since the Duke did take the petition. Claire begins to stitch the wound, torturing Jamie with her "quiet anger" rather than her usual vocalization of displeasure. Claire finishes her work as Ned arrives and informs Jamie the Laird wishes to see him.
Ned and Jamie enter Colum's chambers as he is telling Dougal to leave Leoch and return home to tend to his wife's funeral. Dougal realizes he is being exiled by Colum, but asserts he will not spurn Geillis with his absence and admits she is carrying his child, but Colum has no sympathy for his brother. Angus, Rupert, and Jamie are also to leave Leoch with Dougal, a command that does not sit well with Jamie. He moves to speak, but is silenced by his uncle's wrath. After forcing a nod of acknowledgement from Dougal about his exhile, Colum turns on Jamie for his fight with the MacDonalds, even though Jamie had no wish to fight them and was only there at the Duke's request. He also apologizes for disrespecting his uncle and informs Colum that he will soon no longer be a burden as he is hopeful he will soon return home to Lallybroch. Colum squelches Jamie's notion of returning home until he has been given permission and is to stay close to Dougal and make sure Colum's order are obeyed, which will be aided by Claire remaining at Leoch without Jamie. Another argument brews from Jamie, but Colum threatens him should he speak out of turn again.
Claire joins Jamie as he prepares his horse for departure and voices her concerns about him traveling with an open wound. Jamie tries to elevate some worry with humor, claiming she is sending him off with enough bandages to cover him from face to feet. He also advises Claire to stay clear of Geillis, since she no longer has her husband or Dougal to nullify Colum's wrath. Dougal interrupts their goodbyes, wishing to be on the road and away from his brother. He said, "Kiss your bride goodbye, Jamie. The others await us." As Jamie and Claire are kissing passionately, Dougal says "I said kiss her, dunna swallow 'er". Claire implores him to return to her as soon as he can. With one final kiss placed upon her forehead, Jamie mounts his horse and rides off with Dougal as Claire looks on.
Sometime later, Claire sits with Mrs. Fitz in the kitchen, tending to another one of her burns. Mrs. Fitz tries to cheer Claire up, noting that the separation is not permanent and Jamie will soon be back in Colum's good graces and Claire's arms. Claire thanks Mrs. Fitz for her kindness as Tammas (Daniel Kerr) enters the room and delivers a letter to Claire, which contains a simple message from Geillis, asking her to "come quick." Wasting no time, Claire travels to the village and is admitted to Geillis' house by the maid. Geillis is surprised to see Claire and informs her that she did not send the note, but invites Claire to stay for dinner. Claire is not amused by the supposed prank and implores Geillis to pack her things and leave the village, but she refuses. Claire makes another attempt to get her friend to leave by telling Geillis she knows about the poison she gave to Arthur and that she is not the only one aware of the misdeed. Still not moved to action, Geillis is thankful for the concern, but not worried, even as a loud knock sounds at the door with the warden demanding entrance. Geillis disposes of the bottle in Calire's hand in the fire (presumably the poison) and allows the maid to admit the men at the door, believing Dougal will let no harm come to her or their child. The warden enters the room and quickly restrains Geillis and arrests her for witchcraft. Claire advances, but is stopped by a second man and also placed under arrest. The two women are dragged from the house and placed in the jail cart. Claire peers out the window to see Laoghaire reveal herself and look on with a self-satisfied smile as Claire is carted away.
S01-E11: The Devil's Mark — Directed by Mike Barker; Written by Toni Graphia
This episode starts out with a large flock of birds exhibiting their flying acrobatics over the top of a beautiful lake — the point of this scene becomes apparent later on.
We are then torn from this scene to one of Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Geillis (Lotte Verbeck) being thrown, not too kindly, into the thieves' hole, bouncing off the rocks on their way down. Claire cries out for anyone else who might be down there, but all she finds are some very large rats. Both women pull back quickly to avoid these sizable vermin. Their initial fear wearing off, the blame-throwing begins, with both throwing accusations and fiery words at the nother. Geillis is, understandably, suspicious of Claire's timing, while Claire can't believe Geillis wouldn't flee when she told her to.
Claire immediately recognizes who orchestrated her being there when Geillis was arrested, her blonde, teen rival for Jamie's heart, and bed, Laoghaire MacKenzie. She explains this to Geillis, pointing out that the young girl had watched them being arrested, as well. Geillis, instead, accuses Claire of not having kept her secrets, which Claire quickly corrects by pointing out that the housekeeper knew her secrets, too. Geillis asks if Claire thinks she a witch, too, which she denies. She doesn't pull punches, though, and points out that, while she's not sure if she killed Duncan's wife, she knows Geillis killed her husband, Arthur. This was through the use of poison, though, not witchcraft.
Geillis is silent and turns away, confirming Claire's accusation. They sit for a few tense moments, not speaking to one another. Finally, Geillis admits her guilt, revealing that she had wanted Arthur gone before the baby had even started to show. The baby begins moving around and Geillis sits by Claire, taking her hand to place it on her belly so she can feel the child kicking. She remarks that the child will be a boy, again, as is Dougal's other secret child, Hamish (Roderick Roddy Gilkison). Claire snatches her hand away and moves to another part of the hole, obviously not ready to be back on good terms yet.
At this point, the guard throws some bread down through the grate for them. You can see it still raining through the bars of the grate, as well. She calls for help, moving to where the guard can see her. She explains to him who she is and who her husband is, but the guard doesn't believe her, remarking that, if that was true, then he's King Arthur. Geillis makes a smart comment about this, a feeble attempt at a joke, as the guard stalks off, leaving Claire looking downcast. Geillis obviously feels guilty about the part she played in Claire's being there with her and tries to reassure her. Claire continues to stare off, looking lost and hopeless. Is she thinking about the promise she broke to Jamie upon their parting? Or simply the fact that she might never see him again?
Geillis, unaware of what has transpired, insists that Dougal is going to rescue them. Claire, not very kindly, reveals the truth to her, that Dougal admitted their affair and the existence of the baby to Colum, and then was banished. "No one is coming, Geillis," she tells her, as we watch that sliver of hope leave Geillis' face. After a few moments, she picks up the bread and offers to share it with Claire, but she insists that she isn't hungry.
Claire wonders aloud how long they'll be there and Geillis reminds her about the trial and people she calls "The Examiners." Geillis encourages Claire to lay beside her as they sleep so they can be warmer, but Claire lies down where she is instead, on some very uncomfortable-looking rocks. Geillis lets her sulk and curls up on her own, slightly-less-uncomfortable-looking stone slab.
Claire wakes the next morning, shivering, as children cry outside for the witches to burn. Geillis comments that it's starting, trying to see through the grate, but all we see, and hear, are a crowd of unhappy people. Claire jokes about their fate as witches (i.e. burning at the stake) would be better than freezing to death. Her bravado seems to falter as a ladder is lowered into the hole and they are hauled, none too nicely, onto the street and cuffed. The townspeople of Cranesmuir are crowded around, jeering and yelling at them, as they are led to the courtroom. Some of the townsfolk are stacking wood for the fire and putting the stake into place on the platform while small children run through the streets as if nothing strange is going on. Claire is shocked when she sees it and doesn't quite believe that all of this is real. Geillis comments snarkily that it's not a maypole they're watching being erected.
The courtroom is just as unfriendly towards the pair of women as the streets were. They are led to their box of the court and then read their charges. The man reading the charges mentions them both by name and informs them that this is a Church's Court. He says they are responsible for the pain, suffering, and death of the citizens of Crainesmuir through their witchcraft. As the narrator, Claire admits to seeing no one she recognizes, understanding that their chances of surviving a witch trial were highly unlikely. And yet, just as she is musing about this, Edward (Ned) Gowan (Bill Paterson) appears, giving both of the women hope again. He demands entry and then faces off with the two examiners.
Ned smiles at the women and touches his hat as he approaches the examiners. He seems anxious to help and insists that the trial is illegal based on the repeal of a witchcraft law (we assume this law made an allowance for this kind of thing). The crowd jeers, unhappy with Ned ruining their fun or revenge or whatever it is all these angry people are here for. The examiners counter that this trial is based on the Law of the Church. Ned then plays on their pride for their country by pointing out that they have disregarded English Law, but hoping they'll still follow the traditions of Scottish Law. When the examiners agree that they are following these traditions, Ned points out that those accused of witchcraft are allowed representation, something England would not allow them, and then volunteers himself for this purpose. The crowd is jeering the entire time, but this comment quiets them. The examiners allow it and Ned smugly takes his place.
The first witness called is Geillis' maidservant Jeanie Hume. Geillis seems shocked to see her there. The girl moves quickly, but doesn't appear to have any fear, of either Geillis or the court. She talks about having been their housekeeper for five years. She watches Geillis before surreptitiously selling her out to the court, talking about all of the women who had come to her for remedies and charms. She claims Claire was in league with Geillis, too, but when Claire moves to deny it, she hears the details the housekeeper is giving and realizes she isn't lying. For almost an hour the housekeeper lists all the ways that Geillis and Claire engaged in supposed witchcraft. We come back in as she shows remorse for her employer's death and mentions Geillis singing incantations outside his room as he slept. Geillis laughs, but is obviously trying to control herself despite the outrageous testimony. The examiners watch intently during the entire testimony, especially so when the housekeeper mentions that animals are afraid to go near the house, too. Ned seems like he's trying not to laugh, but then jumps up and jokes about taking the testimony of a cat now.
Ned then cross examines the young woman. He accuses her of having been unhappy in her job, but she denies it. He refers to the time when she sought employment at the castle and insulted both of her employers while there. The girl appears visibly concerned and the examiners, both surprised and unhappy at this turn of events. The crowd laughs as they hear the names she called her employers, but she insists those weren't the words she had used. She has obviously lost her credibility both with the crowd and the examiners. Ned refers to her testimony as "the grumblings of a malcontented maidservant." They dismiss her with obvious disappointment.
The next witness they summon is Robena Donaldson (Kim Allen), a young woman who we find out is the mother of the baby Claire had found dead in the woods. She is plainly dressed and keep rubbing her arm anxiously. The woman claims to have seen Claire take the baby from the tree and speak dark spells over him, killing the changeling child and preventing the return of her own. She lunges at Claire and several people have to grab her and pull her away. Claire insists that she was trying to help the child, which one of the examiners takes as a confession. The crowd immediately chimes in with cries of "witch." Claire continues trying to defend herself, calling herself a healer. Ned comes close and hushes her, insisting she remain quiet and let him do his job. He expresses sympathy to the woman, who is now calmed down, over the loss of her child, but turns things on her since she did nothing to stop Claire from interfering. Rather than become upset over this, she relents, admitting her own guilt in the matter. He comforts her with the knowledge that her own child is with the fairies and that it was the changeling who had died in the woods. He even goes as far as to say that the townsfolk should be thanking Claire, instead. This witness is also dismissed and Claire and Geillis are more hopeful than they had been.
Claire wonders, though, why all of these people would be so eager to burn them as witches, as the next witness is called, Alistair Duffie (Mark Prendergast). This man claims that he saw Geillis out in a storm, calling the lightning down with her hands and the thunder with her voice. Claire is losing her patience again, but Geillis smirks at her, knowing how ridiculous this all is. The man goes as far as to say that the skies had opened up and he had seen Geillis fly through the air like a bird. The crowd is immediately on its feet, screaming over one another. Ned seems concerned and Claire, once more, loses her temper. She yells at the crowd while Geillis simply laughs at the absurdity of the proceedings. The examiners order Claire's silence and adjourn things until the morning.
While they are being cuffed once more, Ned assures her that there is hope, reassuring the worried Claire. He admits to her that Colum (Gary Lewis) would not be pleased to know he was there amid all of this and she realizes that Colum may have had a hand in her being there, as well. Ned won't answer either way on this, but slips a flask in her skirt as she is led away, saying that it will help her to stay warm.
Back in the pit with the rats growing bolder, Claire is drinking from the flask and staring at the hold above them. Geillis is holding her belly and the child within. She asks for the flask and Claire obliges. Geillis ruins the hope that Ned had tried to give Claire, insisting that they will be killed. She gives the flask back. Claire, curious and perhaps still harboring resentment towards Geillis, questions her about her choice of Dougal. It comes out that it wasn't about money, but about politics, and that Geillis has been stealing her husband's money for the Jacobite cause. She doesn't even care that Dougal would be unfaithful to her, but talks about the dreams he has and what he fights for. Claire realizes that Geillis is genuinely in love with the man. Geillis, however, won't admit it, but is clearly hurt by the fact that he followed his brother's orders and left her and their child behind. When Claire offers her sympathies, Geillis refuses them, insisting that she would not have changed a thing, not once the Jacobite prince is back on the throne. Claire quotes Nathan Hale's famous last words and something crosses Geillis' face that she doesn't catch (though those who've read the books understand perfectly). Geillis seems amazed at Claire's words and laughs. When she asks her if she loves Jamie, though, she also does not answer.
The next morning, Claire wakes and hears some birds in the background. She approaches the grate, yanking on it uselessly, though it succeeds in waking up Geillis. They joke about using their witchcraft to escape. There is a bird visible through the grate and Claire watches it, a peaceful and almost happy expression on her face. She calls the bird a starling and then tells Geillis a story from her childhood about going to Brighton and watching the starlings cluster together as they flew (we are reminded of the opening scene of the show). She says that they do this in order to protect one another. Geillis comments that the two of them don't make much of a flock, even with the accusations of flight. The jailor comes and leads them back to the courthouse. The women grasp each other's hands, realizing it could be their last day alive.
Back in the courtroom, the first witness they call is Laoghaire (Nell Hudson). Things are not starting off well for them today. She talks about the love potion she had asked Claire for, playing up the emotions of things, claiming that Claire had then taken the potion herself to steal Jamie away. Again, Claire gets herself in trouble, trying to explain that the potion was not really a potion at all. Again, this is taken as an admission and the crowd there goes wild. Ned accuses Laoghaire of being jealous and broken-hearted, but instead of being silenced, she embraces these descriptions. She then brings up the fact that Claire had hit her when they had returned to the castle. The examiner asks Claire about this and she tries, unsuccessfully, to turn things on Laoghaire by mentioning the ill wish placed under their bed. Ned does not look happy with the turn of events and the crowd responds again. Claire begins yelling, blaming Laoghaire for everything. The examiner quiets her, insisting that she is embarrassing herself.
Then he calls Father Bain who Claire had crossed before with the little boy Tammas Baxter who had been poisoned at the black kirk. There is ominous music accompanying his entrance and he launches into what sounds like he's giving a fire-and-brimstone sermon, the crowd listening with rapt attention. Ned calls him out on this very thing, but quiets once more when he is given only dark looks. The Father continues, talking about the boy he had tried to exorcise. He really plays on their emotions, conjuring the tears for them as he talks about being humbled and apologizing to them for not being stronger than this witch. A man in the crowd leaps to his feet, claiming that only a servant of Satan would be able to reduce the Father to this. The crowd agrees and Claire is on her feet, screaming at them. Ned asks the examiners for time to reassess matters with his clients and is granted it.
Claire looks angry, but Geillis seems genuinely afraid now. The women are taken through the angry mob into a side room. Ned admits that there is nothing left for him to do, and that their only option is for him to sacrifice one to save the other. It becomes quickly obvious which one he intends to get out of this alive. Claire doesn't like it at all and argues with him. Geillis just watches wide-eyed at this exchange. Ned turns on Geillis with the accusations, suggesting Claire blame Geillis of bewitching her. He warns her that they'll both burn if she doesn't do this, but gives them a moment to talk it over.
Geillis demands to know why Claire is there, knowing she's been lying about her past, the same as Dougal and Colum knew. She even claims that is why Colum won't save Claire. Claire finally admits that she is there by accident. Geillis is saddened by this admission, realizing that Claire isn't there for the same reasons she is (again, something confusing to those who haven't read the books yet). Claire says she just wants to go home. Geillis admits that "It's all for nothing," before Ned returns to them.
Geillis seems pissed off now, but seems to agree to taking the blame for Claire in order to save her. When Claire is called upon to speak to the court, she hesitates, looking around the room and then at Geillis. Instead of saving her own skin, she refuses to speak and sits back down. Geillis is surprised by this turn. The examiner sentences them both to death based on a verse in the Bible, "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." The crowd goes crazy.
Ned, rather than allow this to happen, pulls a gun on the court. Time seems to slow around them as Geillis pulls Claire in close. She tells her that she thinks it is possible and gives her the number 1968. The gun goes off as Claire tries to decipher the meaning of these clues and the crowd pulls Ned down from where he'd been standing. Claire starts screaming at them all again (big surprise), her words seeming to be curses against them all. As punishment for this, the examiner insists she be "stripped and scalped." This leads to the crowd grabbing her and securing her as they spread her arms to her sides. As they prepare to punish her, Laoghaire comes up and says that she will dance upon Claire's ashes. The man administering the punishment then rips open the back of Claire's dress and begins to whip her across the back of her shoulders.
Who should come at this point? Of course, it's Jamie, once again saving Claire from troubles she, at least in part, contributed to. The examiner denounces him for interfering with the court, but Jamie says, "As to that, sir, I swore an oath before the alter of God to protect this woman. And if you're tellin' me that ye consider your own authority to be greater than that of the Almighty, then I must inform ye that I'm no of that opinion, myself." He is using his two swords to defend her. Geillis leaps to her feet, gaining the crowd's attention. She claims, "This woman is no witch, but I am". Claire begs her to stop, but she doesn't listen.
Geillis goes into a full confession of the murder, ripping her shoulder down to show, what she calls, "The Devil's Mark." Most of us watching know that this is actually the scar from a smallpox vaccine. This is obviously not something a woman from this time period in Scotland should have. Geillis turns to Jamie and Claire and whispers "Run!". They run as Geillis completely bares herself, revealing that she is pregnant, claiming that it is Satan's child. The crowd carries her away (you can see her red shoes) while Jamie and Claire get out of the city, though we never see where they take Geillis to or what happens next to her.
Now that we know Geillis is a time traveler like Claire, so much makes sense, including her last comments. We can decipher that she was telling Claire that it is possible for her to return home and that she herself came from the year 1968.
Jamie and Claire are next seen in the woods as Jamie dabs at her back with a damp cloth. He comments that the cuts are shallow and she won't be marked. He says that he knows there are things she doesna wish to tell him, but he asks for her honesty, when she does tell him something, let it be the truth, and he'll promise her the same, which she readily agrees to. He asks her, "Are you a witch?" He mentions recognizing the scar on Geillis' arm as being on Claire's as well. Claire is hurt by his doubt, but denies the accusation. She worries he won't believe her, though, when he learns the truth.
Claire tries to explain vaccines to him and the protection it offers her, as well as her knowledge of Black Jack and the Jacobites. The only way she can explain all of this is to admit that she is from the future. She told him she was born on October the 20th, 1918. He looks away, thinking, as she desperately tries to get him to believe her. He denies thinking that she's crazy and that, though he doesn't understand yet, he trusts her. Claire is relieved as he promises to believe anything she tells him. We then see a montage of them talking as the voice over tells us that she is explaining the whole story to him. This is where I suddenly realized that our kilt-clad hero is actually wearing pants for some reason and that Claire is half-naked the entire time she is explaining herself (fixing her dress is an impossibility, I suppose).
Her previous attempt to run from him (which he punished her for) makes sense to him now. He is both apologetic for how he treated her afterwards and upset that she wanted to leave him for her old life and husband. She begins to cry and he comforts her. He is clearly thinking about something, though it's unclear what. She asks him if he really believes her, and he says, "Aye, though it would ha' been a good deal easier if ye'd only been a witch". They kiss.
We go into another montage, explaining that they ride for days, the previous conversation seemingly forgotten, or at least ignored. Jamie seems peppy, talking about Lallybroch and their future there. Claire is still trapped in a funk, though. Then we see Jamie watching her as she sleeps and kisses her gently, not waking her up. She stirs and begins to look excited, though, as he runs his hand up under her skirts. She really gets into it and asks him to be with her, but he says that he wants to watch her instead. In fact, he seems very excited by the prospect. It's obvious through the scene that follows that he enjoys watching her as he teases her to her end.
He is then watching by the water the next morning. She's smiling for the first time in the episode. He asks her if she's ready to go home and, thinking he means Lallybroch, seems genuinely happy at the prospect. They kiss and he nods her in the direction of a small hill, telling her to look. At the top of the hill, though, she sees the traveling stones. She doesn't seem happy anymore, though she fakes a smile for him. Jamie leads her by hand to the stones, drawing his sword. She stares at the stone she had traveled through before as he checks things out and then returns to her side, putting his sword away. She tells him she's not sure how she made it work before, but reaches towards the stone, transfixed. Before she can make contact, though, he snatches her away, pulling her into his arms instead. They share a tender moment. After he apologizes for not letting her go, he admits to not being ready. She agrees that she isn't ready either.
He tries to send her away, knowing that her home is on the other side of that stone. She begins to cry, but Jamie knows she is safer in her own time than with him. He walks away from her, but lets her know that he'll stay near until night so he knows she's safely home. Claire calls to him and says goodbye. He leaves amidst very dramatic music.
Claire stares at both of her rings, side by side, deciding which life to live. She looks back at the smoke of his camp, but she can hear the buzzing of the stones now and approaches the one she must touch.
Jamie is at camp asleep when we hear Claire's voice ordering him to his feet and we realize that she hasn't left after all, but has chosen to stay with Jamie in this time period. She asks him to take her home to Lallybroch and they kiss passionately.
S01-E12: Lallybroch — Directed by Mike Barker; Written by Anne Kenney
The episode begins on the road to Lallybroch. The music from the opening credits continues into the beginning of the episode as the camera travels over the landscape of Scotland. There is a horse with Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) on it, and they come closer into view as the seconds pass. Since Jamie now knows Claire is from the future, Claire tells him about airplanes as they stare into the sunny sky. The conversation moves to age as Jamie asks how old Claire is. "I'm 27," Claire responds. "I always thought you were about my age, or younger," Jamie replies. He does not care about her age, but makes a crack that when he is 40, she will be 245. She replies, "I think your calculations are a little off" (actually, in 13 years when she's 40, he'll be 237 in her time [he's 22 now + 13 years later + 202 years time difference]). They then crest a hill and in the distance is Lallybroch. Seeing Lallybroch for the first time since he was taken by the Redcoats, Jamie has a flashback to Jack Randall's (Tobias Menzies) treatment of his sister, Jenny (Laura Donnelly). After he sees this in his mind, Jamie's expression darkens. Claire can feel his change in mood. Even though it is a ways to go, they dismount and walk the rest of the way.
Claire tries to calm his fears and trepidations about returning to Lallybroch. Jamie tells Claire that Dougal told him of rumors that Jack Randall got Jenny pregnant after raping her. Claire tries to remind him that those were only rumors.
wee Jamie (Aaron Wright), away to find Mrs. Crook. She says, "Correct me brother, but I have a strong impression you're saying I played the whore to Captain Randall". A heated conversation begins and Jamie wants to know who the next child belongs to. Jenny then insults Claire by calling her a trollop when Claire tries to calm the situation. This makes matters worse as Jamie jumps to defend his wife. Jenny threatens to grab him by the balls to make him stay and listen to her, just as she did when they were kids. As Jenny begins to explain, a man with a wooden leg enters the archway and responds to the question asked about who fathered the children, "Mine, and that one too". The man is Ian Murray (Steven Cree), Jenny's husband. Jamie now realizes what he has just said about his sister. Ian and Jamie embrace. Ian asks who the woman is and Claire responds, "The trollop, otherwise known as Claire Fraser," while looking partially at Jenny. Jenny does not turn or change her expression. Jamie tries to apologize, but it is not received well. As she walks up the steps, Jamie flashbacks again to her being dragged down the stairs by Randall.
In the "living room," they sit down to have a drink. Jamie cannot let Randall go and asks Jenny what happened with him. She agrees to tell him once and never again. The story begins in flashback fashion. After Jamie was knocked out by Randall, Jenny went with Randall back in the house and upstairs to a bedroom. Randall smells her head and sticks his bloody finger in her mouth, which is very disturbing. He gropes her and makes her grab his crotch. He kisses her neck and she takes that opportunity to grab a candlestick and strike him on the head. She tries to run, but he catches her. He throws her on the bed and slaps her hard. He starts to undress, including unbuttoning his trousers. And out comes little Jack Randall as he tries to arouse himself before sex, but can't seem to do it. Jenny laughs at him, and keeps doing it even after he slaps her again and again. He eventually knocks her out against the poster of the bed. He had left the house by the time Jenny came to. After Jenny finishes the story, she points out that Jamie was wrong and she expects an apology. Jamie thinks he already has in some way, and Claire corrects him and tells him to apologize. This gets stares from the servants, Ian, and Jenny. Jamie takes Claire away for a moment to explain that she cannot tell him what to do in front of his family, servants, etc. "I'm Laird, and you are my lady. We should both conduct ourselves as such." Claire replies, "I'm not the meek and obedient type." He replies, "I don't think anyone would ever make that mistake, Sassenach." As an example of the point he's making, Jamie mentions his uncle Colum's wife, Letitia. "Strong, respected, feared even. But she never crossed her husband's word in public."
They return to the room and an awkward silence. Ian breaks it by asking Claire where she is from. She says she is from Oxfordshire, but Lallybroch is now her home. This surprises Jenny, as she did not expect Jamie to stay with a price on his head. They explain that a pardon should come through from the Duke of Sandringham. Jenny makes a snide comment about trusting the English which is clearly meant as an insult to Claire. Because the Laird is back, Jenny and Ian move to another bedroom, with Claire and Jamie settling into the Laird's bedroom.
The scene changes to Claire and Jamie in the bedroom. Claire has removed the kilt from her body and you can see that her shift is still torn from the witch trial, but her corset is intact. Jamie looks around the room, remembering his parents. Jamie pulls a sword out from under the bed, where his dad kept it. It is a Viking blade, and Claire identifies it correctly. Jamie continues to reminisce about his father. Claire asks him when was the last time he saw his father.
Jamie starts to remember his time at Fort William. It was a week after his first flogging and Jamie is being taken to Randall's office. His father, Brian (Andrew Whipp), meets him in the hall, and they are given a few moments together. Jamie apologizes for not protecting his sister, and like any good dad would do, he says it was not Jamie's fault. His father leaves him with a kiss on the cheek. Jamie sits in front of Randall at his desk. Randall explains that even if his father was able to get a pardon, it would not make it back in time to save him. He says that Randall bandied words about for awhile, that he likes to "play with his toys." Randall said, "It's quite simple. Give over to me, make free of your body, and there will be no second flogging." Randall tests his restraint, poking at Jamie's fresh back wounds. Jamie ultimately turns down Randall's bargain, realizing that he could not let the man break him or show weakness. Moving forward in time, we return to the setting of the second flogging. This time it is more focused on Brian and Dougal (Graham McTavish) in the crowd. Brian makes a sound and falls to the ground after seeing his son pass out or die from such a brutal flogging. Brian ended up passing away from an apoplexy or stroke.
Jenny and Claire sit at the dinner table, awaiting the men to join them. It is awkward and Jenny is not welcoming. The men come in and talk about "Quarter Day," basically like what the MacKenzies did to collect rent except the tenants come to Lallybroch. It will also be a day of celebration of the Laird's return. Claire questions how public this is and the risk of having Jamie out in the open for all the locals to see. Jenny corrects Claire by telling her that none of their tenants would rat out to the Redcoats. Jenny further strains the situation by admonishing Jamie for not visiting his father's grave that night.
The next day, the tenants start to come to Lallybroch and bring welcoming gifts to Claire and Jamie. Robert (David Leith) gave him a bottle of liquor. Ian and Jamie go inside to start the process of collecting the rents. It is a happy event inside as well, as everyone is drinking and eating. It appears the Jamie is not as tough on his tenants like the MacKenzies. He is letting some go and pay next quarter if they are short. Duncan (Paul Charlton) could only pay half of what he owed because he lost a cow two months back, so Jamie refused to squeeze his last coin from him and gave it back to him.
Outside, Claire observes a father, Ronald MacNab (Richard Jack) abuse his son, Rabbie (Jamie Kennedy), over trying to take a bit of food. Claire takes the boy off his hands and it is clear that the young boy has been abused repeatedly and probably is hungry as well.
That night, Jamie returns to bedchamber drunk as a skunk after Claire has already gone to bed. Of course, he's so clumsy taking his boots off that he falls over and wakes her up. She says, "I've seen elephants sit down with less impact." He makes some comments in Gaelic, and she says, "English, please." He said, "Sassenach, now you're a Scot, ye should work on your Gaelic." She asks him where he's been, and he said he tried to reason with MacNab, but in the end he had to show him the difference between abuse and discipline, then slaps her butt. "Ronald, if I ever see any evidence of you harming your wee laddie, ye'll have to answer to Laird Broch Tuarach." He slaps her butt again and says, "That's me." "Yes, I know," she replies. As he leans in close she says, "Jamie, you reek!" "You've actually seen an elephant?" She gives him a sideways look and says, "Yes, road one too." He collapses on top of her, she pushes him off her body and he falls asleep instantly, snoring. A little satisfied smile creeps onto Claire's face.
The next morning, Jamie is very hungover and Claire gives him "hair of the dog", to which he replies, "I think I may need the whole hound." Jenny comes at him since he failed to collect rents in favor of being easy on his tenants. And she is thoroughly mad that Rabbie McNab will be staying with them because of Jamie's drunken lecture to his father about discipline versus abuse. Jenny is just done with Claire and Jamie coming in and disrupting the place. She says, "Do ye think life just started when the two of you walked through that door?" Jamie retaliates by stating his position, "I am the Laird of this estate and I do not need to discuss the running of it with my sister." Jenny storms out of the room with "Begging yer pardon, Laird Broch Tuarach". Jamie grabs a bannock, takes a bite, spits it out with disgust, and yells for Mrs. Crook (Margaret Fraser), who informs him that the mill is not working properly and they've had to grind the flour by hand.
He visits the mill with Claire to repair it. He ends up having to disrobe, all but his shirt, to dive in and see if something is preventing the wheel from turning. Jenny arrives to tear into her brother again, but immediately sees a troop of Redcoats arriving on their horses. Jamie surfaces and sees them also. Jenny tells Claire to keep quiet to not let them know she is English, and both of them sit down to cover Jamie's clothing on the ground. It turns out this is a helpful troop of Redcoats as their leader, Corporal Dawson (Matthew Douglas) offers to help fix the mill. Jenny tells the other soldier to call back his master, but he replies, "Ye've no need to worry misses. The Corporal's father has a wheat mill in Hampshire. What he doesn't know about water wheels would fit in me shoe." Corporal Dawson also starts to disrobe to dive in and get the wheel to turn. Luckily, Jamie gets it to start again and throws his shirt on the wheel to give it a cause. The soldiers leave and Jamie surfaces further downstream, freezing cold. He is at once cupping his manhood and shielding it from his sister's eyes. He turns around, and Jenny is able to see his scarred back for the first time. She's shocked by it and turns away.
Ian and Claire meet that night in the hallway as she is looking at some of the Fraser portraits. Ian comments that she's a night owl, like him, and explains how Jenny is and how alike she is to her brother. "She's a Fraser. Their hearts are as big and soft as their heads are thick and strong." Ian comments on his lost leg, telling Claire that it was Jenny who took care of him when he returned from France with a stump of wood. Claire recounts hearing about it from Jamie. He says, "It doesna slow me down much — it aches a wee bit towards the end of the day." She suggests Guelder Rose or Water-pepper to help with soreness, and he says he hasn't tried water-pepper yet, then she offers to make some for him. Ian also recounts how Jamie brought him back to Scotland, but Jenny made him whole again. "Is that why you married her?", to which Ian said, "Do ye think I had any choice in the matter?" Jenny found Ian in the field one day, came up to him and kissed him, then said, "Fine, we'll be married on St. Martin's day." Next thing he knew, while he was explaining to her why they couldn't do such a thing, he was standing in front of a priest saying, "I take thee Janet..." He continues giving Claire advice on being married to a Fraser. Claire asks, "How do you manage?" and Ian replies, "Ye give them a tug on your rope, or give them a wee kick in their back side. They might move, or you might get bit for your trouble." "And then what?" Claire asks. Ian replies, "Kick them harder."
Claire literally pulls Jamie out of bed to remind him that she married Jamie, not the Laird. He has lost himself in coming to Lallybroch and his father would not be pleased. This spurns Jamie to visit Brian's grave the next day. Jenny finds him there. She said that she was wrong, Rabbie MacNab would be better off at Lallybroch, and their father would have agreed. He ended up collecting the rents and gives them to her. She then admits that she wants to apologize to him because she has blamed him for their father's death, but seeing the scars on his back, she thinks that her laughing at Randall spurned him on to take his anger out on Jamie's back. Jamie says it is neither of their faults, it is Jack Randall's fault alone. Jenny said, "And if your life is a suitable exchange for my honor, tell me why my honor is not a suitable exchange for your life? ... Or are you telling me that I may not love you as much as you love me? Because if ye are, Jamie Fraser, I'll tell ye right now it's not true!" Jamie was taken suddenly at a loss by this conclusion. We see Brian Fraser's grave stone which reads,
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IMAGE: /400/052.png
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BRIAN DUBH
BRIAN ROBERT DAVID FRASER
BORN IN INVERNESS-SHIRE
SCOTLAND:1691 AN DIED IN
THE 49th YEAR OF HIS AGE
AT FORT WILLIAM 1740
CUS AM BRIS AN LA ACUS AN
TEKH NA SCAILEAN
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The episode returns to the bedchamber where Claire is looking at Broch Tuarach, the "north-facing tower". The tower is round, she wonders how can it be north-facing? "The door faces north," is Jamie's response. Claire is beginning to feel like she belongs at Lallybroch. Jamie said, "I knew you belonged here with me, almost since the first moment I laid eyes on ye. That's one of the reasons I agreed to marry you, though not the main one." "What was the main one?" Claire asked. "Because I wanted you. More than I ever wanted anything in my life. Right from the moment I fell off the horse and woke up in the dark looking up at your face. Then there was that long ride together, with that lovely round arse wedged tight between my thighs, and that rock solid head thumping me in the chest." Jamie revealed that he wanted her from the first moment he saw her, but he loved her when she wept in his arms that first night at Leoch. "Now I wake up every day and I find that I love you more than the day before." They kiss tenderly and passionately. Claire tells him "I love you." He picks her up and carries her to bed.
Claire awakens to an empty bed the next morning. She comes out into the hall and sees four men in the foyer, some of which are pointing guns at Jamie. They notice Claire, Jamie looks up at her, and Claire looks down to him in terror. The watch have arrived.
This episode starts up where the last episode left off. A man stands with his pistol pointed at Jamie (Sam Heughan), who turns to face the barrel as Claire (Caitriona Balfe) moves down the stairs. The tension is broken by Jenny (Laura Donnelly), who orders the man to put his gun down. The man does not immediately lower his weapon as Jenny introduces Jamie as her cousin and he calls himself Jamie MacTavish, the name he once used at Castle Leoch. He finally lowers his weapon, apologizing for the confusion. Jenny continues her story, littering it with some truth, including his marriage to Claire. The man finally introduces himself as Taran MacQuarrie (Douglas Henshall) as Ian (Steven Cree) joins the rest and delivers Taran's refinished sword to him. Dinner is requested and Jenny takes off for the kitchen with Jamie right on her heels.
Catching up to her, Jamie reprimands his sister for allowing the Watch into their home. Ian and Claire soon join the others in the kitchen and Ian assures Jamie they will only be a few days. Jamie's anger is not assuaged, even though Ian tells him Taran and his men are not all bad and keep them safe from the Redcoats and other raiding clans. Jamie worries about the Watch knowing about the price on his head, but Jenny tells him they will be fine if Jamie can keep his wits about him. This particular group of men have been coming to Lallybroch every few months over the last two years and Jamie shouts at Jenny that he would never have allowed this to happen. Not backing down, Jenny throws it in his face that Jamie was not around, but Claire cuts in before it can escalate further, urging the siblings to keep their voices down so the Watch does not hear them. The pair break apart and stand in silence until Ian assures Jamie that, although they allow the Watch to come to their home, it has taken its toll on them, but something they had to do. He is open to hearing a better solution from Jamie, who offers nothing in return.
Jenny suddenly cries out in pain and Claire rushes to her side and tries to get Jenny to sit down, but she continues to prepare dinner for the men. Claire then urges Jamie to listen to his sister and to not provoke the men of the Watch.
Gathered for dinner, Taran asks more about Jamie and Claire reveals he fought in the French army with Ian. Taran also served in the French army, but in Austria, while Ian and Jamie were in Spain. The trio revel in some of their old war stories, but Taran is suspicious since Ian has never mentioned Jamie in any of his stories. After Taran raises his glass for a toast, "Here's to a long life, and a merry one; a quick death, and an easy one; a pretty girl, and an honest one; and a stiff whisky, and another one." Claire wonders how long the men are staying. Taran reveals they will only be there a few days, but that a few more men will be joining their company tomorrow since they have a plan in the works. When Taran asks to see the smithy in the morning for his horse, Jamie offers his services. Taran accepts and praises the cook before he and his men take their leave after dinner.
The men of the Watch gather the next day as Jamie tends to lame Taran's horse. Rabbie MacNab (Jamie Kennedy) is helping him. One man from the watch, Lennox (Douglas Russell), sets fire to a wagon of hay as the others stand back and laugh. Jamie and others rush to put out the fire, and when they do, Jamie turns his anger on the men of the Watch. One draws his pistol and points it at Jamie, who attacks and fights off the other men as they become the aggressors. Taran approaches and orders the men to stand down, and offers his apologizes to Jamie. He also tries to wrangle Jamie into joining the company, but James concedes that he is done with fighting. Jamie is drawn back to the house by the sounds of the dogs barking. As he approaches, he sees the additional members of the Watch and is surprised by the appearance of Horrocks (Lochlann O'Mearáin). Recognition registers on Horrocks' face, but when Taran inquires, Horrocks brushes it off before heading into the house.
Secluded in a room with Claire, Jamie tells her of Horrocks' arrival and his worry that the man will not keep what he knows about Jamie to himself for long. Jamie, who thought Lallybroch would be a safe haven for them, believes they should not have come back at all, but Claire is quick to cut down his sentiments, knowing they can handle whatever trouble crops up.
Jamie walks through the house and comes upon Horrocks explaining a potential ambush to the other men of the Watch. He pauses for a moment before quietly turning away. Outside, Jenny and Claire tend to the laundry with the help of young Jamie (Aaron Wright), before he is sent away for splashing water on Claire. When the pair are left alone, their talk turns to Jenny's pregnancy and her belief she is carrying another boy. Claire reveals to Jenny that she is an only child and Jenny tells Claire about their brother Willie, who died when Jamie was only eight (in the books he was six), and how Ian became like a brother to him after. She tells Claire, "Auld John, Ian's father, used to tell Ian his job was to guard his chief's weaker side. And he did. When Jamie and Ian stood shoulder to shoulder, there was noone who could take the pair of them down." While walking more clothes to the line, Jenny doubles over in pain and reveals her water has broken. Claire moves into action and takes Jenny into the house.
Inside the bedroom, Claire examines Jenny and discovers the baby is breech. Jenny says, "It's a footling then" As Claire attempts to turn the baby, Jenny states, "Ye have not been with child yourself then?" Claire says no. Jenny relates that "Grannie MacNab says you should drink a tea of raspberry leaves and rosehips when the moon is waxing, that and a bit of Ladies Mantle wi' a raw egg beaten up in it." Claire is unsuccessful in turning the child. Jenny says, "He's determined to land on his feet." "It's a stubborn one," Claire observes. Definately has Fraser in him." When Claire suggests she goes to get Ian, Jenny is adamant that she not worry Ian. "No point in worrying the man. Tell him the bairn's comin' but nothing else."
Jamie spots Horrocks on his own in the house and moves to confront the man. Horrocks wondered when Jamie would seek him out and after the man rambles a bit, Jamie demands to know what he wants. Horrocks wishes to sail to the colonies, specifically Boston, but lacks the funds for the journey, even with the money he will collect from the upcoming raid. The man swears Jamie will never see him again if he gives him the money and Jamie simply wonders how much.
Claire returns to Jenny, who is now pacing the floor. Claire asks Jenny to tell her what it is like being pregnant as she continues to cross the length of the room. Jenny tells her that in the early days it is like wind in your belly, but later, when the child begins to move it is like a fish tugging on a line. "They sleep for hours at a time. Sometimes when there's been no movement, you fear they've died. Then, you try to wake them, and when they kick again, you get down on your knees and promise God anything he asks if He'll keep them safe." And finally, towards the end, when the child moves alot, Jenny compares it to a man pouring himself inside you, and that throbbing begins, it feels like that, only much bigger. "That's what they want sometimes, ye know, they want to come back." The pair are soon informed by Mrs. Crook that the midwife is unable to come and Claire assures Jenny that it will be alright, that it is possible to deliver a breech baby, she can reach inside and guide it out. Then Jenny say, "All right. But ye'll be fetching me a good stiff dram before we start." Claire says, "In that case, the baby will likely be drunk too." And Jenny says, "Then he'll come into the world a true Scot."
Jamie and Ian tend to the scorched hay wagon and Ian reprimands his friend for provoking the men of the Watch. Jamie wonders why Ian is not more upset by their presence and he informs him that Taran has been easy on them and not taken as much as he has from others. Ian also tells Jamie that he sometimes looks forward to Taran's visits since he does not look down on Ian. He is also grateful that they keep the Redcoats at bay since Ian is determined to not let what happened between Jenny and Randall (Tobais Menzies) ever happen again. Jamie is still uneasy and when Ian inquires, Jamie informs him that Horrocks knows about the price on Jamie's head and wants money. Ian tells Jamie about a sum of money from his and Jenny's father, but Jamie is hesitant to take it and does not want his sister to know about Horrocks' threats. Jamie refuses the money, but Ian assures him that it is what Jenny would want and what Ian wants for him too.
Back in their bedroom, Jamie tells Claire the money was meant for her and their children. Claire grows worried at the mention of children, and though Jamie believes he has let her down, she feels just the opposite. Holding back her tears, Claire confesses to Jamie that she does not believe she can have children, since she was unable to conceive while married to Frank (Tobias Menzies). Claire knows she should have told him prior to their marriage, but she did not count on falling in love with him or wanting a family with him. She apologizes, but he comforts her with the thought that it may be for the best since he could not bear seeing her in pain. The pair break from their embrace as Claire leaves to return to Jenny.
Jamie walks towards the spot where he is to meet Horrocks, concealing a pistol on the way. Horrocks whistles, revealing himself to Jamie on the high ground. Jamie walks to him and tosses the bag of money up to the man. As Jamie turns to walk away, Horrocks stops him and demands more money, which is something Jamie does not have. Horrocks threatens Jamie and his family as he draws his pistol. Horrocks has no time to make another threat as an unknown assailant runs a sword through his chest from behind. Jamie is startled by the attack, but relieved when Horrock's body falls to reveal Ian, who is quite shaken. He says, "I thought I'd killed my last man in the war." Jamie is grateful to Ian, and says if Ian hadn't killed Horrocks, he would have had to. Jamie, to help Ian calm down, remembers when they were younger fighting in France together, that they used to argue which was a bigger sin, fornication or killing, and worry whether they would go to hell. Ian says, "Well, if you're going to hell, I might as well go too. God knows you'll never manage alone." Jamie says, "Go get the shovel."
Later that night, Jenny's cries reverberate through the house as Claire prepares a birthing area. Jenny removes her wedding ring (because her fingers are swelling up like sausages) and hands it to Claire to put away. In the jewelry box, Claire finds a carved wooden snake figure Willie made for Jamie's fifth birthday. The snake has the name SAWNY scratched into the underside, and Jenny says, "It's a pet name. It's a play on the Gaelic for his second name, Alexander. It's what Willie used to call Jamie." During their talk, Jenny also says, "Willie is burried out there, next to my mother. She died two years after he did, in childbirth." She is obviously scared, and asks Claire to give the snake to Jamie for her. Understanding her meaning, Claire tells Jenny to give it to her brother herself.
Jenny's cries carry through the house and one of the men from the Watch yells for her to stop howling. Ian pushes past and makes his way to his wife upstairs, leaving Jamie alone with the Watch. Taran offers Jamie a bag of coins for the burned hay before wondering about Horrocks' whereabouts. Jamie gives nothing away and is pleased to hear they will be moving on the next day.
Ian and Jamie join Taran for breakfast, who tries to deduce what happened to Horrocks. Taran flat out asks Jamie why he killed Horrocks and, before Ian can interject, Jamie confesses he is a wanted man and Horrocks tried to blackmail him, which led to his death. Taran is surprisingly pleased by the news and uses what he now knows about Jamie to get him to agree to ride to the ambush with the Watch. Jamie swiftly agrees to joining them this once and Ian stands to join Jamie.
Claire warns Jamie to be on guard since they could still turn him in after he has severed his purpose. Ian believes Jamie will be fine, but is still determined to go with him. Claire urges Ian to stay with Jenny, but she too wishes Ian to accompany her brother. Claire stands aside to let Ian pass to say his goodbyes to his wife. Claire motions for Jamie to follow her into the hall. She pulls out the snake figure and presents it to Jamie. Claire repeats Jenny's orders for Jamie to hurry back before they kiss goodbye.
Ian and Jamie ride alongside the Watch. Jamie questions Taran about his choice to live on the road and be part of the Watch. The man tries to convince Jamie to take up with them, but Jamie confesses Claire is reason enough to be settled. Jamie wonders if Taran has plans to turn him over once the raid is over, but Taran assures him he will not since he too knows what it is like in prison.
As Jenny's labor progresses, she makes Claire promise to take care of Ian, but Claire assures her there will be no need for that. Jenny is finally ready to push and positions herself on her hands and knees on the bed of hay Claire has arranged in the bedroom.
Back with the Watch, the company approaches the area Horrocks told them about to stage the ambush. Jamie agrees the area is ideal, but becomes suspicious as he looks around the area and realizes there is no way out for them. A group of Redcoats reveal themselves and attack the men, gunfire ringing.
Claire swaddles the child and hands Jenny her baby girl. A few days later, Claire stands just outside the front door of the house holding baby Margaret Ellen, looking longingly at the road for Jamie and Ian to return. Jenny takes the baby from Claire and sends her inside with Mrs. Crook (Margeret Fraser) for a nap before joining her on the steps. Jenny tries to reassure Claire that Jamie will return since she too stared at the road waiting for him to return all those years and he finally did. After a moment, Jenny reaches into her pocket and retrieves two large ivory bracelets belonging to her mother, giving them to Claire, who is now the Lady of Lallybroch. Jenny also reveals they were given to her mother as a wedding present from an admirer. Claire attempts to show Jenny a bit of affection with a kiss on the cheek, but the other woman is startled by her actions. The dogs' barking draws the pair's attentions as two men stumble up the road. Claire and Jenny run to meet whoever is approaching, which is revealed to be Ian and Crenshaw (Francis Magee) from the Watch. Claire wonders where Jamie is and Ian tells them of the ambush orchestrated by Horrocks and the Redcoats, which resulted in Jamie and MacQuarrie captured by the Redcoats and the rest of the men dead.
Jenny (Laura Donnelly) rushes about the house with instructions for Mrs. Crook (Margaret Fraser) to start milking some goats straight away, and to ask Grannie MacNab for some honey. Ian (Steven Cree) lays injured on the couch. Claire (Caitriona Balfe) breezes past Ian, but halts when he call out to her, wondering what she plans to do. When she tells him she intends to get Jamie (Sam Heughan) back, he tries to rise from the couch to accompany her. She refuses, and after Jenny also tells him he is not leaving, he turns Mrs. Crook to rally the other tenants with proper weapons to join in the search, but Claire refuses the assistance since Lallybroch could suffer for going against the English. Ian concedes, but offers to make a rough map of where they were ambushed to help in the search.
Claire mounts her horse and prepares to leave, but is startled by Jenny coming to join her. Although Claire has Ian's map and some knowledge of the area, Jenny has the skills to track the soldiers. Before Claire can argue again, Jenny takes off on horseback with Claire trailing behind her.
The pair travel through the land, pausing to refer to Ian's map and investigate tracks left in a field. Spotting birds circle the sky nearby, Jenny knows they are getting close to where the men were ambushed. Claire and Jenny come across the spot where Jamie was taken to find the bodies of some of the other men of the Watch, including Lennox (Douglas Russell); Jenny knees to say a prayer over each of the bodies. Looking at the fallen men, Claire is reminded of her time in the war, when the fallen men of the victors were taken from the field of battle and buried, but the defeated are left to decay where they fell. Jenny's voice pulls Claire from her thoughts and informs her there are more tracks heading east, including those made by a heavy cart that will make it easy for them to follow.
After more traveling, Claire and Jenny take a short respite from riding to allow Jenny a moment to relieve herself of breast milk since she has been away from the baby for some time. Jenny says of having to stop to express her milk, "It's a nuisance... Everything to do wi' bairns is a nuisance, almost. Still, ye'd never choose not to have them." Claire wonders if they will actually find Jamie and Jenny tells her that they have to before Jamie is reunited with Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies), who will most likely finish what he started. Claire hopes to avoid Randall by going over him to his superior Lord Thomas (John Heffernan), who she believes took a liking to her when they met at Brockton. Jenny is not convinced by Claire's plan, but they continue on with their search.
Jenny comes upon warm horse droppings and they find themselves close to the English soldiers' campsite. They spot Taran MacQuarrie (Douglas Henshall) restrained on the cart, but do not see Jamie anywhere in sight. One solider is seen receiving a letter and setting off on his own, giving Jenny and Claire an opportunity to learn more about Jamie's whereabouts.
Along the road, Jenny throws herself into the path of the soldier's horse, causing him to stop and providing Claire the opportunity to sneak up on him. She makes her presence known by holding a pistol to his head, as does Jenny. The pair manage to tie him belly-down to a log and Jenny hits him with the stock of a rifle while trying to get information from him. The solider, Private Richards (Mark Jeary) refuses to answer, throwing insults at the women before Jenny sticks a hot rod to the bottom of his feet. Claire tries to reason with him, but he does not tell them anything of consequence until he reveals himself to be a courier. At this, Claire tells Jenny to stop and goes through the man's bag hoping one of the dispatches will mention Jamie. Claire finds a document detailing Jamie's escape and the army's attempts to retrieve him. Jenny realizes that since the letter has not reached Fort William, they will not know of Jamie's escape and will not go looking for him and proceeds to tear up the dispatch. Claire knows Jamie will not return to Lallybroch and Jenny agrees, saying that he will go north and deeper into the Highlands where the garrison would not follow because it would take them too far from their supplies and reinforcements.
Claire moves to gather supplies to tend to the soldier's injuries, but Jenny stops her since they cannot allow the man to live. Claire does not agree and the pair argue and stare each other down until a noise draws their attention. They turn to see Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) cutting the man's throat. Ridding his knife of the blood, he tells the women to make camp while he hunts for supper.
Jenny joins Claire by the fire later that night, Claire asks, "Where did you learn to track like that?" Jenny replied, "Jamie and Ian taught me when we were young." "They didn't mind you tagging along?" Claire asks. "They knew if they refused, I'd either scalp their lugs or bedevil their suppers". Claire is curious, "Bedevil their suppers?" Jenny picked up a bug and said, "Added a bit of seasoning. I'd show them the wee beasties and tell them they'd get plenty more when they least expected it, if they dinna teach me." They are startled by a noise, but regain composure when Murtagh, who was sent after them by Ian, returns with meat for dinner.
Jenny gives the bag of rent money to Claire, as well as a small knife for protection as she prepares to return to Lallybroach. Before Jenny can leave, Claire implores her to plant potatoes and sell any unproductive land for gold because of a famine that will take place in two years time. Claire also warns of the coming war, to which Jenny replies that Jamie told her Claire might talk about such things and that Jenny should listen to her. They embrace and Jenny knows Claire will do whatever she can to bring Jamie home. Jenny mounts her horse and takes off for Lallybroch.
Claire joins Murtagh at the horses as they prepare to head north. Claire wonders how they will find Jamie and Murtagh tells her they will not find Jamie, but he will find them. Murtagh brought a case of Claire's medicine and plans to use her skills as a healer to attract attention. The pair travel from village to village and stopped in each one for Claire to tend to those in need. In the evening, Murtagh takes to the stage dancing as a means to draw more attention. Claire also begins to read palms as a way of inquiring about Jamie, but her efforts are to no avail. Murtagh joins her at the table and Claire does not believe their plan will work.
Murtagh continues his act in another village and Claire suggests Murtagh adds a song to jazz up his dance. Claire begins to sing "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" from The Andrews Sisters as they walk through the crowd, which inspires Murtagh to change their approach. It is Claire's turn to take to the stage since Murtagh believes a Sassenach dressed as a man and singing a particular song that Jamie will recognize to that tune will speed up their search. Here are the words:
Here's to all you lads and lasses
That go out this way.
Be sure to tip your coggie
When you take her out to play
Lads and lasses toy a kiss,
The lads never think
What they do is amiss
Because there's Kent and keen
And there's Aberdeen
And there's naan as muckle as the strath
Of boogie woogie
For every lad'll wander
Just to have his lass
An' when they see her pintle rise,
They'll raise a glass
And rowe about their wanton een
They dance a reel as the troopers
Go over the lea
Because there's Kent and keen
| |
And there's Aberdeen
And there's naan as muckle as the strath
Of boogie woogie
A-root, a-toot
A rooty-a-doot
A-root, a-toot
A rooty-a-doot
He giggled, goggled me
He was a banger
He sought the prize between my thighs
Became a hanger
And there's Kent and keen
And there's Aberdeen
And there's naan as muckle as the strath
Of boogie woogie
[scatting]
And no there's naan as muckle
As the wanton tune
Of strath of boogie
|
Claire reluctantly takes to the stage, but gradually becomes more comfortable with the performance. Word does spread about her, as one of their next stops draws a large crowd and Murtagh moves through the crowd to collect money and inquire about Jamie. A man who was at one of Claire's other performances watches her again along with his small company and observes the success she and Murtagh have reaped from their act. Claire concludes her performance and meets Murtagh backstage. They have just performed in their sixth village and Claire wonders how much longer they must keep at it. Murtagh is determined to keep going as long as it takes, knowing that Jamie will recognize the song as one Dougal used to sing.
The pair continue their travels and both perform their song and dance everywhere they go. They come across a gathering in the woods and find that a group from another village has stolen their act. Claire and Murtagh confront the gypsies after the performance in an attempt to stop them. Claire tells the leader Seorise Ward (Martin Brodie) she is singing the song in order to find her husband, and that once he is found, she will never sing it again. Offering him the money Jenny gave her, she asks for his word that they will not perform the song again. Murtagh chastises her for trusting the gypsy since they will no doubt keep performing the song and confuse Jamie. He tries to get her to return to Lallybroch so he can track the gypsies on his own, but Claire refuses and pulls rank as the Laird's Lady to continue on using the song to find Jamie, along with Murtagh.
Claire continues to draw a crowd as the pair travel from place to place until they reach the coast. The pair stop for the night and set up camp. Sitting around the fire, Claire and Murtagh begin to argue about their situation. Murtagh accuses Claire of being stubborn and trusting the gypsies. Claire fights back with her words, accusing Murtagh of not understanding what it feels like to lose someone you love. Her words force Murtagh to tell her the story of a woman he once loved. She had another suitor and during the MacKenzie gathering he single handedly killed a boar as a way of proving himself worthy. The Laird was so impressed by his actions that he gave Murtagh the tusks, which he made into bracelets to give to the woman as a wedding gift. Realization dawns on Claire, who retrieves the bracelets belonging to Jamie's mother that Jenny gave her. Murtagh tells Claire she is not the only one who loves Jamie and that he is like a son to him. Claire breaks down and apologizes to Murtagh as she embraces him.
The next morning, the pair decide to go back to where they started and begin again in their search. As a means to make money, Claire once again begins to tell fortunes. She also comes face to face with the gypsies, who bring word from a messenger meant for Claire. Their leader, Mr. Seorise Ward, tells her to go to Glen Rowan Cross with all due haste, and Murtagh confirms it is a place Jamie would know.
Claire and Murtagh once again resume their travels and finally make it to the location. Running toward a cave, Claire cries out for Jamie, but is met by another familiar face. Dougal (Graham McTavish) informs Claire that he has news of Jamie, who is alive, but was captured again by the red coats and sent to Wentworth Prison, where he stood trial and is sentenced to hang. When Claire tries to leave, Dougal stops her, but Murtagh puts himself between the two. Dougal says he needs to speak to Claire alone and Murtagh concedes when Claire agrees.
Dougal draws Claire away and, while taking her hands in his, tells her she must let Jamie go. He urges her to return with him, but she tries to pull away saying that she needs her husband, to which Dougal offers her protection if she takes him as her husband. At his words, Claire pulls away, disgusted by Dougal's disregard for herself, Jamie, and Geillis (Lotte Verbeck). Dougal tries to scare her by suggesting Jack Randall may return to Lallybroch, but Claire does not relent. He tries again, saying the only way to save herself and Lallybroch is to come under his protection and Claire soon realizes his true intentions. She figures out that Dougal wishes to control the Fraser lands, which is why Dougal kept Jamie away from home for so long with lies about his sister and Randall. Dougal does not give up on trying to persuade her and says that even Jamie would want his home and Claire protected, even if that meant she would have to marry Dougal.
Claire backs away from Dougal and only breaks her silence to ask how many men are in his company. He reveals there are ten men with him and quickly realizes she is thinking of breaking into Wentworth to save Jamie. Dougal does not think they will succeed, but Claire is determined to try, even going as far as promising to marry Dougal if they fail. Dougal agrees, but says he will only allower her to take the men who volunteer to go with them and the pair shake on the deal.
Claire and Murtagh meet with Dougal's men, a group that includes Angus (Stephen Walters), Rupert (Grant O'Rourke), and Willie (Finn Den Hertog), but the men refuse to go with them. Claire tries to persuade them, knowing that Jamie would go after them if they were in his situation. The men remain silent at her plea until Willie MacMurtry volunteers to join Claire, which causes Angus and Rupert to agree to go with Claire to Wentworth.
Claire, Murtagh, Angus, Rupert, and Willie ride off towards Wentworth and stop when the prison is in sight.
This episode picks up where "The Search" left off. It is not for the weak hearted or faint of spirit and will be really difficult for some people to watch. But it follows the story in the book pretty closely and they don't shy away from the dark material in the book. If you could not handle the flogging scene in "The Garrison Commander," then go ahead and just skip this one or at least have your finger on the fast forward button.
The title card scene with the hanging ring of torture devices makes it pretty clear what is going to happen eventually. If you made it past that, then the opening scene greets you with multiple hangings. A group of prisoners wait for their name to be called, among them is Jamie (Sam Heughan) and MacQuarrie (Douglas Henshall). As they lead MacQuarrie to the gallows he says, "I've but one regret Fraser, I'll be climbing those steps before you." Unfortunately, MacQuarrie meets his end and it is not quick and easy as he'd hoped for (remember his toast in "The Watch" episode?). As the letter of execution with James Fraser is turned, emotions run high. Jamie Alas, the dread placed on this episode continues as Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies) rides into the courtyard and stops Jamie's execution. You can see a moment of Jamie questioning whether to just step off the gallows and meet his death rather than let Randall lay claim to him.
It is after this that we see the dungeon where the rest of Jamie's scenes will take place. He is chained to the wall in a dark, stone lined cell. Jamie tries frantically to free himself by pulling on the chain, but it is no use. He will continue to try throughout the episode as he has some fight in him and a wife to return to.
Meanwhile, Claire (Caitriona Balfe) has arrived at Wentworth Prison and manages to get an audience with Sir Fletcher Gordon (Frazer Hines), the warden of the prison. Being an Englishwoman in Scotland has paid off again. Claire does not reveal who she is in relation to Jamie, just that she is an acquaintance of the family. She is refused a visit or a letter to Jamie. Sir Fletcher is not totally without redemption, as he takes pity on her and gives her Jamie's belongings to return to the family (the contents of his sporran containing Willie's snake, his fishing line, dried mole's foot and such). Claire is a strong woman; she keeps it together until she leaves the prison. Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix) is there to rescue her from being weak in the knees and throwing up over the situation. It is in that moment, that you see how much Murtagh cares for Claire.
Back at the local pub, Claire is resenting the fun that Angus (Stephen Walters) and Rupert (Grant O'Rourke) are having at a game of cards (it turns out they were purposefully losing) and being served plenty of drink by a servant girl (Saskia Grace Robinson). Willie (Finn den Hertog) keeps Murtagh and Claire company. Angus and Rupert were not entirely useless though. They managed to find out when Sir Fletcher would be away from his office for nearly an hour.
Randall's interrogation of Jamie begins. Randall has brought along some muscle in the form of a daft, large man named Marley (Richard Ashton). When he saw Jamie struggling to pull the chain holding him out of the wall, he qjoted Thomas Mallory saying, "Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of all England." Black Jack apologized to Jamie for the prison commissary, although he was glad that Jamie had eaten the food he'd sent him. The Duke of Sandringham evidently has loose lips when he's in his cups. The petition of complaint against Randall that both Jamie and Claire signed is in his pouch. He tells Jamie that if it had been presented to the Court of Sessions, they would likely find in his favor and it might be him up on that jibbot instead of Jamie. But instead, he sets it on fire dashing any hope Jamie might have of a pardon. The fact that they'd come so close to destroying him seemed to motivate Randall even more, if that is possible.
Claire and Murtagh manage to get back into the prison and into Sir Fletcher's empty office. When they are left alone and start searching, they don't find much. A set of keys is all they get for their troubles, and that comes at a price when they have to knock out the Head Jailor (Owen Oakeshott) who has caught them in the act. This sets off Claire's excursion into the prison to find Jamie. Luckily, the sound of yelling for Jamie as she's walking around to several holding cells does not travel far enough for soldiers to hear. Thick walls, I guess.
The entire first part of the Randall's time with Jamie is a mind game. Randall starts off cordial and asks if he can call him Jamie. Jamie replies, "I care not, but if you expect me to beg for my life, you'll be sorely disappointed." Randall says that he is unable to save him now, even if he wished to. "Our time together here is but a momentary reprieve." Jamie says, "Dunna bother, I prefer the noose." Randall wants Jamie to admit his fear of him and surrender to him, and in return, Randall will let Jamie choose his own manner of death. He said Jamie deserves a clean, honorable death, one of his own choosing. He evens mentions the death of Brutus, which is a nice nod to Menzies' role as Brutus in the TV series, Rome. He said, "Perhaps you do not wish to see my face at the end. I understand. I can simply slit your throat from behind. It's messy, but the choice is yours." Jamie does not surrender. He takes his only chance to take out Randall when Randall tries to see Jamie's back, which he calls his masterpiece. Jamie does not succeed and he pays a huge price for it as Randall and Marley retaliate by smashing his left hand. Claire hears Jamie's screams and follows the sound. Then Randall uses Jamie's weakened condition and starts to take advantage of him. Marley looks on with disgust and backs away. Randall manages to rein himself in and says, "No, I will not give in to coarse passion."
Claire eventually finds Jamie, as Randall and Marley have left the door unlocked and open. She tries despirately to release him from his shackles, but then Randall says behind her, "You truly have a gift for showing up at the most unexpected times." She goes berzerk and attacks him screaming "You fucking sadistic piece of shit!" but Marley holds her back. Then she says, "I should have slit your throat when you were lying unconsious at Fort William." He replys blandly, "Yes, I'm afraid you will come to regret that small act of humanity. You're no coward; I will grant you that. A fit match for your husband, and I cannot give you a better compliment than that." What follows is one of the most painful sequences to watch, complete emotional wreckage as all three actors give their all to the scene. Claire fights off Marley creepy advances and Jack uses Claire, strangling her, to emotionally torture Jamie. Finally he yells "STOP!" and offers himself, unresisting, if Jack will promose to let Claire go unharmed. She refuses to leave him, but with no other choice, they steal a very brief but passionate goodbye before Randall, who is thrilled by the deal he's just struck, drags Claire out. As they're walking down the hallway, he mentions her recent witch trial at Cranesmuir. She takes that opportunity to tell him, "Witch I am, and I curse you, I curse you with the knowledge Jack Randall, with the hour of your death. Jonathan Wolverton Randall, born September 3, 1705. Dies ..." and then she whispers the date into his ear. He literally dumps her on the trash heap with the recently hung prisoners, including MacQuarrie.
In a nice compromise for book readers, you hear wolves howling in the background as Claire makes her way through the forest. Angus finds her and brings her to Eldridge House, the home of Sir Marcus MacRannoch (Brian McCardie), a friend of the MacKenzie and Fraser clans. Claire begs for his help in rescuing Jamie, but he's got a wife and three bairns to protect and says it's not worth the risk of bringing the Readcoats down on them all. She offers to pay him with Ellen's pearls, which it turns out he'd given to her as a wedding gift. Murtagh confirms that Jamie is Ellen's son, "Aye, and ye'd ken it if ye saw him—he's the spit of her." Even though her son is the one who needs rescuing and he'd like to help Ellen's son, he tells them it's still too dangerous. Then Absalom (Gary Lind), who was sent out that morning to round up MacRannoch's forty missing head of cattle, returns with only nineteen of them. MacRannoch smells liquor on his breath and chastises him for losing 21 cows. Murtagh, seeing the substantial, even though diminished, herd of cows, smiles and says, "I know how we can save young Jamie."
The episode opens with a view of Wentworth Prison, drums sounding as if at a hanging, but then we realize that it's for the raising of the flag, and it becomes a light tune with woodwinds added in. The soldiers present their rifles as the flag rises.
We cut to the cell and there's poor Jamie (Sam Heughan), lying on a cot, his eyes blankly staring ahead. Randall (Tobias Menzies) is beside him on the cot. Even when he gets up and dresses, Jamie remains unmoved. Suddenly, Jamie says, "Ye owe me a debt." Randall pulls a knife from his pile of clothes (presumably to kill him, which is the debt he owes), but is distracted by strange noises down the hall. Jamie starts to lose his composure as Randall turns to investigate the sound. He tries to move from the bed, but is hardly even able to move. Randall ignores him and leaves. The sounds grow louder as he approaches a door down a couple turns in the hall. On the other side of the door, however, is a stampede of cattle, which quickly overtakes the door and leaves Randall crushed beneath the fallen door.
As soon as Randall is down, Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix), Rupert (Grant O'Rourke) and Angus (Stephen Walters) slip in and find Jamie. Murtagh covers him quickly, but it is clear that they all have a good idea of what happened in this cell. Murtagh reassures Jamie and then carries him out as the soldiers are dealing with the cattle. They escape on horses with a cart and meet up with Claire (Caitriona Balfe) down the road. Murtagh doesn't want to stop, but Claire insists on checking the damage done to her husband. She climbs into the back of the cart with him and moves the sheet. Her face is pained as she surveys the signs of abuse on Jamie. Rupert mentions that Jamie reeks and she identifies the smell as oil of lavender and says that it's used to relieve pain. Murtagh sends Angus back to watch the road while they get ready to head out. Jamie wakes for a moment, but when Claire comforts him, he sees Randall's face instead of hers and strangles her. He is clearly both angry and terrified. Murtagh pulls him away and notices that Jamie is delirious. They speak back and forth in Gaelic for a moment, but that's all the info Claire can get from Murtagh about what Jamie is saying. They quickly move on.
They pull up to a monastery where Willie (Finn Den Hertog) has recruited help from Father Anselm (Ian Hanmore) who promised them sanctuary and safety. He cuts Claire off to let her know that everything she needs to treat Jamie is already ready for her. Jamie continues to fight them, though, leading Brother Paul (Sandy Grierson) who is helping her to believe that Jamie's soul is in turmoil. Claire hears him, but focuses on the physical ailment of his hand, an issue she more readily knows how to treat. He flinches from her and insists again that she not touch him. Claire begs him to talk to her, and asks, "What did Randall do to you?" Jamie responds with, "Too much ... but not enough" (meaning he didn't kill him as he'd promised).
Jamie flashes back to his hand being nailed to the table, the last place we saw him in the previous episode. There are rats all over the floor and the dead body of Randall's sidekick Marley (Richard Ashton). Randall is watching Jamie and shares his flask with him, not allowing him to drink all of it, though. He says he wants to make Jamie more comfortable, so he pulls the nail from his hand. Jamie is overcome by the pain and falls away from the table, vomiting. Randall cradles him tenderly, contradicting what he had said in the previous episode by telling him that the worst was now over. Randall puts a little water on Jamie's forehead and admires his half-naked body. He kisses Jamie again and, when he gets no response, tries a third time. Jamie continues to resist and Randall complains that it's like kissing a corpse. He threatens to retrieve Claire, but Jamie insists that his side of the agreement was that he wouldn't resist Randall's advances. Randall likens this to the martyrdom of Jesus on the cross, but he is determined to make Jamie respond. He picks him up and moves him to the table, sitting him in a chair.
Randall kneels before Jamie, pushing aside his kilt. Jamie shows some anxiety, but Randall shushes him while coaxing his legs apart. Jamie won't look and barely keeps his composure as Randall caresses up his thigh. Randall asks him if his hand feels nice and then moves under the kilt so we can't see him anymore. Jamie's face is teary, pained, as he tries not to respond. Randall uses his hand again while watching and speaking to Jamie. He comments that he wants to make this experience pleasant for both of them. Jamie gets angry and finally tells him to just take his pleasure, spitting in Randall's face. Randall seems to have his feelings hurt, but then grows angry, too. He is clearly offended and insists that he is capable to controlling his urges. He removes Jamie's kilt and roughly bends him over the table, undoing his belt. He insists he'll get a reaction from Jamie and then forces himself on him, being rough and telling him to scream. He grows rougher until Jamie does just that.
We flash back to Jamie and Claire as he is drinking whisky. Claire is trying to give him laudanum for the pain, but Jamie, frowning, says, "Whiskey will do me just fine." Brother Paul advises Jamie to listen to Claire, but he continues being belligerent. She takes the bottle from him, reminding him that she's about to set nine bones in his hand. He admits that he wanted to be dead by the time Randall was done with him. Claire is equally stubborn and insists on setting the hand, no matter what Jamie says. Jamie uses a similar phrase with her that he used with Randall earlier, "Do as you wish." Claire is shocked by his apathy and takes the pain medication from him as he tries to take too much of it. He drifts off again as she prepares and then we hear Claire's voice over talking about the process. She mentions that it's different to be working on her husband than on the soldiers from the war. She also remembers Jamie saying that he could take any pain, but that he would need greater strength to see her in pain. She equates this to the strength they both needed now. She's worried about infection, but is hopeful about the prognosis for his hand. Brother Paul offers to stay with Jamie so Claire can sleep. As Claire leaves, she is sick against the wall and struggles to keep her tears under control.
Claire isn't sleeping, but is in a small chapel when Father Anselm comes in to light some candles. She gets up to leave, but he apologizes for disturbing her prayers. She explains that she was just trying to clear her head, so he offers for her to sit and let him hear her confession. She resists at first, afraid it won't make sense, but he convinces her to try. So she tells him everything, about going on holiday with Frank to Inverness eight months ago, in 1945 (October), about the time traveling and her two husbands. The part she seems to struggle most with is that her selfishness is hurting both of her husbands, especially blaming herself for everything that has happened to Jamie. Claire is crying by the time she finishes talking, but Father Anselm touches her hand to comfort her and says, "How marvelous, extraordinary. A miracle, perhaps." It is not what she was expecting. "A miracle? Somehow I don't think canon law is constructed with my situation in mind." "True, but our Lord sees the truth in all things, and so he knows your truth as well. Whatever your sins may be, have faith it will be forgiven."
Back in Jamie's room, he still refuses to eat. Brother Paul tells Claire about Jamie's continued stubbornness. Claire tells Jamie that he needs food and touches his forehead. Jamie seems out of it and she confirms he has a fever. However, his hand seems to be fine. She tells him about what the process of fixing his hand will be like, but he isn't listening. She asks the monk for some ice water and clean clothes to help the fever and reduce infection, so the monk leaves to fetch these things. Jamie tells her, "Ye canna save a man who doesna want saving."
In another part of the monastery, the guys are offering Murtagh a drink to take his mind off Jamie not eating. Willie tells a story about how his uncle lost his arm in an accident and starved himself to death fretting over it, which does not comfort him. Murtagh goes to Jamie with a bowl of broth, but he won't touch it. Instead they begin conversing in Gaelic. Murtagh is clearly trying to reason with Jamie about something, but becomes upset with him and says Claire's name, but nothing else is clear to those of us who don't understand Gaelic. But here's a translation I found:
| Jamie: | Ciamar as urrainn mo leigeil ris a' chràdh seo? | How can I be left to this pain? |
| Murtagh: | Nì sinn ar dìcheall do leigheas. | We shall do our utmost to heal you. |
| Jamie: | Cha ghabh cuid de nithean leigheas.
Mar as miann leam, cuir crìoch air seo a-nis. | Some things don't take healing.
As is my desire, put an end to this now. |
| Murtagh: | Chan fhuilinn mi 'n còrr. | I'll suffer no more of this. |
| Jamie: | Chan fhaigh mi seachad air seo.
An toir u orm aslachdainn? | I won't get past this.
Will you force me to beg? |
| Murtagh: | Thug mi geall do d' mhàthair, sìth air a h-anam, nach tigeadh cron ort. | I gave a promise to your mother, peace on her soul, that no harm would come to you. |
| Jamie: | Is anmoch an uair, a ghoistidh. | Late is the hour, oh godfather. |
| Murtagh: | Agas Claire?
Am bitheadh i na banntrach, air a treigsinn?
Tha do cheann sa bhrochan.
Chan eil smaoin agad oirre ann. | And Claire?
Would she just be a widow, forsaken?
Your head's in the porridge (you're not thinking straight).
You haven't a single thought for her. |
| Jamie: | Chan eil smaoin agam ann ach oirre-se. | I haven't a single thought of anything but her. |
Jamie remembers back to the cell again, where he is dragging himself across the floor, vomiting blood. Randall watches without his shirt, sitting on the floor. He asks Jamie if he has reached his limit yet. Jamie continues spitting blood, groaning in pain, as he starts seeing Claire instead of Randall. Randall wonders aloud at the power Claire has over Jamie and wants to know her secret. Jamie begins to lose it, talking about her being gone and no more. Randall pulls Jamie back and asks him if he belongs to Randall. Jamie sees Claire again and admits to being only his. Jamie is out of it, so Randall seems less than satisfied. Randall heats his seal in the fire and tells Jamie to prove it, pointing to Jamie's chest, over his heart. But when Jamie gives in, he slips it to his ribs instead. Randall holds him as Jamie is in pain, but he still doesn't seem happy.
Willie scouts the area looking for Redcoat patrols and spots two of them, one headed North, the other East. Luckily he's not seen, but Murtagh thinks that it won't be long before they head North and the monistery is no place for a fight.
Murtagh suggests Claire takes Jamie elsewhere, another country. Both sides of his family have people in France, and Willie points out that she is supposed to have family there, too. She explains it away as being her ex-husband's family, not hers, and says that she thinks Jamie would prefer to be with members of the Fraser clan. They assure her that the MacKenzies will always stand by her, too. Murtagh leaves to get them a ship.
Willie brings news of the trip to France to Jamie. He wants to help, but Jamie sees his knife and asks for it so he can end himself. Willie is shocked, but won't give in to Jamie and leaves. Murtagh tells Claire about procuring passage for them on the Cristabel for fifty coins. Claire recounts the story Willie told her and asks if Murtagh knew about Jamie's intentions. Murtagh says he wanted to tell Claire, but that Jamie made him pledge not to. Murtagh's been praying that Claire could change Jamie's mind. Claire clearly doesn't understand. Murtagh tries to explain where Jamie is coming from, but Claire refuses to accept it. Murtagh suggests that there must be more going on with Jamie than either of them have guessed at yet. He tells Claire that he's sorry, that he doesn't want to hurt either of them, but he also doesn't want to watch Jamie waste away. He insinuates that he'll put Jamie out of his misery if he is beyond help. Claire faints at those words, but Murtagh catches her.
Murtagh and Brother Paul bring her back and Claire tries to get up from the bench they have her on. She is still preoccupied with Jamie's physical damage, but Brother Paul suggests that Jamie will kill himself if he isn't brought back into the light. Murtagh knows Jamie's stubbornness, though, and suggests that someone has to step into the darkness with him to save him. We see Claire preparing some oil of lavender. She uses it on Jamie, trying to trick him into thinking Randall is back. Jamie sees through it, though, and resists her. She wants to know what happened, but Jamie shoves her to the floor and they hit each other back and forth a couple of times. He doesn't want to hurt her, but she gets mad and tells him he already is. She rips his shirt and sees the brand on his side. She tries to understand, tells him they can remove it, but there is more bothering him. We learn that Randall made love to him and that his response is what is truly bothering him.
We see Jamie on the cot in the cell while Randall washes himself and then returns with the lavender oil. He gets Jamie to finally respond to him by pretending he is Claire. He makes Jamie think of Claire while he touches him. He succeeds in confusing the delirious Jamie and tricks him into tying them in his mind. Afterwards, Jamie realizes what happened and starts crying. He believes Randall when he says, "I understand. How could she ever forgive you?"
Jamie feels horrible and explains that it just felt so good not to be in pain anymore. Claire insists that there is nothing to forgive, but he says, "Don't ye see, I canna be your husband any longer, and I will not be less to you." Claire sees it as survival, but Jamie feels broken. She insists they belong to each other and nothing can change that. He grows angrier, torn between wanting her and shame. Claire won't let him go or give up on her. She moves to him and grabs his face, reminding him about his vow to protect her with his body. She refuses to let Randall have Jamie's soul, too. She believes that everything that's happened was to bring them together and says, "If you take away the one last thing that makes sense to me, then I will die with you here now." This brings him around, but he still can't touch her. He wonders, "How can you have me like this?" She insists, "I will have you any way I can, always." She wraps her arms around him and he holds her.
Jamie refuses pain medication, looking much more like himself, as they prepare to cut the brand from his side. Murtagh cuts it out quickly then throws it on the fire as Jamie spits on it and we watch it burn.
The men say farewell as Jamie and Claire get ready for the ship. Claire thanks Willie for his help and she hugs him goodbye. There's some humor with Angus kissing her, and Ruper showing him the proper way to say farewell by kissing her hand very galantly. Finally the couple and Murtagh are on the ship for France. On the deck of the ship, Jamie approaches Claire who is near the railing throwing up. He comments on her being seasick, though he expected it to be himself. She's glad to see his humor is returning as he teases her. She reminds him that they'll both be all right and he assures her he'll be sure of it. She admits having fear of the future being unknown and he promises her they'll return to Scotland one day. She's afraid for the future of Scotland, though, but then realizes that they might be able to stop all the bad things that are coming. France gives them this opportunity with Prince Charles being there. He is intrigued by the idea, but not completely convinced. She then shocks him by telling him that she is pregnant. He looks terrified at first, but then says, "I never thought I'd be able to say such a thing again, but yes, yes, I'm verra happy, Sassenach." She is visibly relieved. They hug, they kiss, and then they hold each other as we watch the ship, Cristabel, get underway.
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