An offer has been made for Geoffrey Charles's shares of Wheal Grace.
It seems we both have a mysterious benefactor.
I don't blame you for your anger, but how does it serve us now?
How does this serve us?!
I know what 'ee be thinking. What's good for the gander.
Mistress Poldark! What a happy coincidence.
I cannot give myself to any man except my husband.
I am having a child of my own. It's the most wonderful thing.
Verity!
- I am a gentleman, sir. - And she is an heiress!
I wonder if the Navy's so desperate as to need a second-rate surgeon.
The Navy will need all the men it can get if the war continues.
There's something he need 'ee to see.
We've been working on it for some days now. Today the lode split.
Henshawe says he's never seen richer ground!
He tried to stop this marriage but offered nothing in return.
He's left me with only one possible choice.
I've been thinking about our domestic arrangements.
I've a fancy to live somewhere else.
Can scarce sleep at night for dreaming
of the lode and wanting to get back to her.
'Tis a miracle. A mine that do actually pay?
And not just pay. Yields riches!
Your gamble has paid off.
Our gamble.
There are soldiers in the village, looking for men to enlist.
And we thought war couldn't touch us here.
He plays beautifully by himself.
Yet it's a lonely thing, to be an only child.
Oh! Must it go? I think Geoffrey Charles will miss it.
But, my dear, this is where I'd hoped that my gift to you...
Which?
A portrait of us both, painted by the celebrated John Opie.
You spoil me.
Would you excuse me, my dear?
How long will Uncle George stay, Mama?
Oh, sweetheart! Uncle George lives here now.
You must think of him as your new papa.
What'll be going on 'ere? Hop it! This be private land.
Since when?
Since Mr Warleggan be master 'ere!
He can't do that. This is open land.
No longer.
Mr Warleggan will have 'ee hanged if he see thee here again.
Is...is that wise?
A man who owns land has the right to enclose it.
But to use force needlessly is to court enemies.
Are you becoming squeamish?
I merely question the virtue of provoking one's neighbours,
great or small.
You're sure it was on Warleggan orders?
Look at Jory. Look at Dan. Do you not recognise the handiwork?
You also tried to cross at Trenwith Land?
Warleggan do think he can do as 'e please.
- He needs reining in. - Hear, hear!
Who's to do it? The man owns half the county.
Them Frenchies 'ave the right idea! Eh, Dr Enys?
I used to think so.
But what began as a just cause has since become a bloodbath.
'Twill happen 'ere soon enough. Mark my words.
Demelza?
Give me your hand.
Cast your mind back a twelvemonth.
How many times did we think all was lost?
You'd surely not wish to be back there again.
Would I not, Ross?
Drink?
Regularly.
Wine?
Canary.
Appetite?
Voracious.
Urine?
Unusually sweet.
So Dr Choake informs me.
- And his diagnosis? - Oh, a fever.
Then the gout...
a wasting disease...
tuberculous infection.
Have you anything to add?
Only that I believe him to be utterly mistaken.
This is the sugar sickness. The symptoms are unmistakable.
What must I do?
Give up most of the things you eat and drink. Wine, especially.
And that'll cure me, will it?
No.
But it may prolong your life.
Will my life be worth living? It hardly sounds like it!
Dr Enys?
Hmm?
You and I did not part as friends,
so I'm all the more obliged to you for coming.
But I feel it only fair to tell you that Caroline will shortly be
engaged to Lord Coniston, eldest son of Earl Windermere.
I congratulate Miss Penvenen.
I do hope this information will not now distress you.
Not in the least, sir. I bid you good day.
Are you quite clear, Dr Enys, what you're signing up for?
The duration of the war?
Which you assure me will be long, desperate and bloody.
I may not return to these shores for years. Or indeed at all.
Where do I sign?
I wonder, is it wise to seek more confrontation?
Is there, or is there not,
some doubt over the legality of this arrangement?
Ah, my dear, the sale of Geoffrey Charles's shares in Wheal Grace.
We fear it might have been fraudulent.
Do you recall Ross mentioning any new shareholders?
You must know I've had no dealings with Ross since before our marriage.
Of course, my dear. Do not distress yourself.
Leave me to deal with the matter.
"Dear Poldark, as you are a trustee of Francis's estate, perhaps
"you might shed light on certain recent transactions which
"appear troubling."
"Dear Warleggan, as you are not a trustee of Francis's estate,
"I do not consider the business in any way concerns you."
"Dear Poldark, it may have escaped your notice that Elizabeth
"and I are now married.
"In attending to Francis's estate,
"I am merely trying to take the burden off her.
"She has been unwell and would prefer to meet you at Trenwith,
"if you could trouble yourself to attend."
These are pleasant times, Nephew. No peasant safe from assault!
Or is that just our house?
You need not remain here, Aunt. Come and live at Nampara.
And let that upstart win?
We need not take much of your time, provided you can supply
sufficient explanation.
Where's Elizabeth?
Resting. We can complete the business without her.
I think not. She is co-trustee in his estate.
I shall do nothing without her presence.
Well, she has signed a power of attorney...
...so that I may act on her behalf.
At her request, since she wants nothing more to do with you.
- Shall we get on? - Hm.
The half-share in Wheal Grace,
held on behalf of Mrs Warleggan's son Geoffrey Charles,
- disposed of at the beginning of the year./- What of it?
We're not satisfied that the transaction was legal.
It was legal.
Mrs Poldark...
Mrs Warleggan received £600 on behalf of her
son for a half-share in a worthless mine.
And who was so foolish as to pay her that sum?
I was.
In January, Elizabeth was in dire straits.
Having persuaded Francis to sink his last £600 into
the mine, I felt duty bound to give it back to Elizabeth.
Knowing she would not accept the money as a gift,
I devised a strategy to do so without her knowing.
But circumstances have since changed.
What you took from Elizabeth and her son...
Purchased...is now worth more than what you gave for it.
Should you now not return the half-share of this successful
mine into the custody of the child's trustees?
In other words, you.
As his adoptive father, naturally I would manage his affairs.
Last January, had the Wheal Grace stock come on to the market,
it would not have fetched £10!
The mine was finished.
We kept her going through winter, and with our bare hands we
reopened her after a catastrophic rock fall.
We risked everything we had, George.
And against all odds, we struck tin.
So now I deem the profit mine, not Elizabeth's,
not Geoffrey Charles's
and most especially not yours.
So unless you have anything else to add...
Oh, er, only that you...
may wish to consider how poorly this reflects on you.
A man who cheats his young ward?
Up to now I have offered no violence. But if you persist...
You would not dare lay a finger on me.
Because your army of servants will protect you?
Go back to your scullery maid!
Kemp! Harry! Triggs!
Get this man out of my house!
Your house? Your house?
This is Geoffrey Charles's house!
A mild colic. I'll mix him a sedative.
- Come to old Prudie, Master Jeremy. - Go on, then.
See what she has for you now!
You'll stay until Ross returns?
Of course.
I have some news.
I've applied for a post as a surgeon in the Navy.
I expect to leave any day.
- Oh, but, Dwight... - I must gain more experience,
and the war will surely supply that.
And besides, I've had news of Caroline.
She's to be married.
To a Lord Coniston.
- I'm that sorry. - I am not.
It was the spur I needed to put her behind me.
But you did love her.
We would never have been happy. We're too dissimilar.
Judas! What happened?
It's a scratch.
And nothing compared to what I gave Ross.
I hope he will have learnt his lesson.
Are you angry?
Little boys fighting?
He was offensive... about someone other than myself.
I can scarce believe we're losing Dwight.
Nor I.
It makes me wonder if I should go.
Why? Because your dearest friend is running away, so must you?
Because I'm a soldier, and if my regiment requires me...
- Obviously, the thought of leaving you and Jeremy.../- It wouldn't be
the first time you've considered such a thing.
How was Elizabeth?
She avoided me.
- As you've avoided her? - What would you have me do?
I would have you be honest, Ross. To her. To me.
To yourself!
Am I not honest? Where am I not honest now?
Go to war, Ross. Play at soldiers.
Or stay home and save all of Cornwall.
What it is to be married to such a great man...
Letter come. And Mr Ross do ride to Truro.
There. You hold that.
"My dear Demelza, as my time draws near,
"I am both excited and afeared in equal measure.
"And with Andrew away at sea,
"I begin to miss my Nampara cousins most dreadfully.
"How I wish I had your strength to see me through.
"How fortunate you are to have Ross always at your side."
Yes, how fortunate.
'Rejoin your regiment?'
Just as your mine begins to prosper and your family's secure?
It's because we're secure that I would consider going.
Obviously, I'd need to put my affairs in order first.
Beginning with George.
He's contesting the sale of my nephew's shares in Wheal Grace.
The deal was entirely legal. But that may not deter him.
He has the funds to finance a lawsuit
and to drag it out for years.
I've had my fill of court.
But what could be his purpose?
To get his hands on Grace the way he did Leisure,
especially now she prospers. Which reminds me, my mystery benefactor...
Yes?
I wish to repay him. So tell me his name.
You recall the loan was given in confidence.
Oh, come, Harris, I cannot go away to war
without thanking him in person.
So who is he?
Well, as to that,
I don't recall ever mentioning a "he" at all.
Caroline Penvenen?
Dwight must have told her about our business.
Is that not astonishing?
I dare say she's taken a fancy to you.
I'm a married man.
And that would make all the difference?
Oh, Demelza! It was one night.
How long will it take you to forgive me?
I don't know, Ross.
How long would it take you to forgive me?
That's hardly the same.
You would never do a thing which required my forgiveness.
Are you sure?
When?
Werry House. After the ball, Captain McNeil came to my room.
How could he dare?!
Because I invited him.
After your antics with Elizabeth, I decided I might have a turn myself.
A turn? How far did...?
Oh, kisses, caresses.
And then I sent him away.
Oh, good God, Demelza, was that not enough?
I tell you, I do not admire you for this.
It does you no credit.
Nor me neither! And what "credit" did your night with Elizabeth do me?
That's entirely different! How is it different?
I take no pride in my visit to her. It was the outcome of
a devotion which on my side lasted ten years!
Not some tawdry little passion worked up over a glass of
port with some opportunist soldier who took what was on offer.
That is precisely not what was on offer! I did not permit him.
How do I know what you permitted?
You're right, Ross.
How do you know?
If you trust me not and I trust you not, then what is the
point in this marriage at all?
I entirely agree.
What is the point?
Right, let's get gone.
At this time of night?
Welcome, ma'am.
My father's at sea so has asked me to be here in his stead.
We expect the confinement any day.
Oh, Verity!
This is a turnabout!
Andrew insisted I was not to be left unattended
but that she should be the one to come.
Ross? I came to tell you...
Ross?
You...you surely don't intend... Am I not a soldier?
With a family, a prosperous mine,
a settled life.
But perhaps that's the problem.
You're so blessed you've nothing to fight for.
What does Demelza say? Does...does she even know?
She will know soon enough, whenever she returns.
Dwight, I must tell you.
My...mysterious benefactor...
...is Caroline.
How...? Why would she...?
I can only apologise if I spoke too freely of your business affairs.
I can only express my gratitude that you did!
I owe you both more than I can say.
Together you saved me. And in return...
I can assure you, I have no regrets.
And nor, it appears, does Caroline.
And now we may be brothers-in-arms!
My, er, my posting is through.
HMS Travail. I leave for Plymouth tomorrow.
Godspeed!
And good luck!
She's growing used to me. Am I not the luckiest of women?
The most deserving.
And you?
Well, Lord knows what I deserve.
How is Ross?
At war with himself...
and the idea of George at Trenwith.
I too struggle with the idea of my family home in the hands of
a Warleggan.
But Elizabeth has made her choice.
It's nothing. A slight cramp.
It's been happening since last night.
It may not be "nothing"!
♪ Some say the devil's dead and buried in Fowey Harbour ♪
♪ Some say he'm alive again Wedded to a barber... ♪
Stand and deliver!
Captain Poldark! What a treat.
Yet I see no flags out for your visit.
They put the flags out when I leave.
Tell me all the news of Cornwall.
My dear Elizabeth, this news has made me the happiest of men.
'So, what brings you to London?'
A need to see justice done. My mine has begun to prosper.
It was your loan which enabled me to keep it open till we struck tin.
My loan?
There's no point denying it.
So now you stand accused of wilfully saving three people from the
worst disaster bankruptcy can bring.
And what is my sentence?
To bear the brunt of my eternal gratitude.
And to shortly take receipt of repayment in full.
So instead of thanking me, you should be congratulating
me on my shrewd business sense!
I believe congratulations of another sort are due.
Your engagement to Lord Coniston?
Arthur has made me several offers of marriage,
which I have so far declined.
May I ask why?
The usual capriciousness of my sex.
And presumably you do not love him.
As you say, I do not love him.
In fact, it's probable you still love Dwight Enys.
Since you left, he has been unable to settle.
Oh, and he has no idea I'm here, and, had he known,
he would certainly have forbidden me.
But I thought you should know that he's joined the Navy.
Dr Enys! Welcome to the Navy.
- Thank you. - Let me get you a drink.
Why have you come here?
To ask you why you left Cornwall.
And why you refused Dwight a second chance after he explained
what happened on the night of the ambush.
Did you not see him in the weeks before we were due to elope?
He behaved as if he were contemplating something shameful...
...deserting his beloved patients in the middle of the night
for the fleshpots of Bath!
Could you not have returned to Cornwall, defied your uncle?
Lived in a cottage, dined on sprats?
In asking Dwight to leave Cornwall, I was expecting too much of him.
Since I have left Cornwall, I have realised I was asking
too much of myself.
So, in effect, your love could not surmount the obstacles.
In effect, it could not.
Why do I not believe you?
What has he done?
Are you most troubled by the thing itself or something more?
'Tis the thing itself.
No. No, 'tis more. 'Tis...
'Tis the running away from it, hiding from what has passed,
the refusal to look it in the face and stand the consequence.
But isn't that what you are doing even now?
What would you have me do?
Oh, Demelza, I cannot instruct you.
I do not even know the deed.
But reason cannot guide you.
Only the heart.
And sometimes what the heart dictates makes no sense at all.
Yet it must be followed.
- Did 'ee miss I? - Miss 'ee? Y' black worm!
Leavin' I alone to fend off villains and footpads!
Fat lot o' use you are, y' lizardy louse!
- Where be the maid? - Left us at Bargus Crossroads.
- Bound for where? - Nowhere that'll do her any good.
Excuse me.
Ross!
Are you a figment of my imagination?
I hope not!
I'm here to see my colonel and thought I'd look you up.
I'm astonished.
Well, I'm ravenous! When do we dine?
Is Demelza well?
I couldn't say. I've been in London.
What on earth took you there?
Caroline.
I went to thank her for the loan.
And to congratulate her on her engagement...
which I was unable to do, since it turns out there's no such event.
I-I don't understand.
I also made mention of her uncle's ill health,
which may account for her decision to visit him.
- Whether there's another purpose... - What? So Caroline's...?
Where is she?
Standing just behind you.
Does Ross know you're here?
Is Ross my keeper?
Why have you come?
I thought 'twas to tell you that I hate you,
you've marred my faith, you've broke my marriage,
that I envy you...
...the passion which you roused that Ross could not withstand...
...that I pity you, because you could never make up your mind.
Now I wonder...
...what do any of it matter?
What you did - Ross did - cannot be undone.
And you both must live with that.
But I need not.
What will you do?
I'll take my son...
...and I'll go back to my father's house.
You would leave Ross?
I will no longer be ruled by what he did.
You're welcome to him.
Believe me, I do not lightly meddle in other people's affairs.
That's been Demelza's way, and often I've chided her for it.
But lately I've come around to her way of thinking.
She would say that if two people love each other, then the
obstacles which keep them apart must be substantial,
else they lack the courage of their convictions.
I think she would also say that life holds very few things
which are genuinely worth having...
...and if you possess them, then...
nothing else matters.
And if you don't possess them, then...
...then everything else is worthless.
And yet to gamble on the unknown?
Is not all life a gamble?
And does the gambler always come off worst?
I suspect that those who suffer most are the ones who ignore their
heart's desires and spend the rest of their lives regretting it.
Now no doubt you hate me.
And now no doubt I hate you.
Did you fire that gun?
Judas! You might have killed me!
What do you mean by firing without checking there's folk about?
Orders, missus. Shoot all folk a-straying.
Now be off before I fire again.
Captain Ross Poldark,
of His Majesty's 62nd Regiment of Foot.
Fences, my evers! Never needed 'em in my day.
World's gone to pot! 'Tis a cryin' disgrace.
'Tis.
What happened?
'Tis just a scratch, 'tis all. That luggard Tom Harry.
- He never shot at thee? - On the path by Trenwith.
- On Warleggan's orders. - I'll give him orders!
Nay, Jud. I want no more feuding between our families.
Tell no-one of this, least of all Ross.
Let me bind it for thee, maid. I can manage.
Say nothing.
Have you really captured me, Dr Enys?
You understand this changes nothing.
It changes everything!
Caroline, I'm going to war.
It'd be foolish to pretend there's no risk.
If the worst should happen...
Why would you speak of such things?
Because I must. Because you are enlisting
in a venture every bit as fraught as my own now
and you must know what you're putting your name to.
I am putting my name aside and taking that of the man that I love.
How long do we have?
I sail on the morning tide.
So these are our last few hours?
They are.
Where is your room?
He closed off our land! He gave thee a twaggin'!
- An' old Prudie! - He tried to murder I!
Have Cap'n Ross hang!
And now he's gone an' shot the mistress!
We should set a ring round Trenwith an' burn it to the ground!
Who's with me?
- Why didn't you stop him? - Stop 'im?
Why, 'twas I that told him to go.
George Warleggan do think he can throw his weight around
and tramp common folk beneath his boot.
But fire at thee? 'Tis too much!
Oh, Prudie, what have you done?
I think in January we'll settle in town.
Trenwith is so out of the way,
and I must be on hand to keep an eye on the new building.
The Warleggan bank?
Mm. We start demolishing those unsightly hovels next month.
Of course, my prime concern is for you.
- What do you want? - To tell you to bar your doors.
There's unrest in the village. They may march on Trenwith.
You expect me to believe this?
I've no love of you, George, nor you, Elizabeth, but for the
sake of Geoffrey Charles and Agatha, I urge you.
A mob would be ill advised to trespass here.
They would be breaking the law, and I would see to it that they hang.
If they didn't string you up first.
Is that a threat?
It's a plea - for him to come to his senses.
Did Ross send you?
How could he? He'll be on his way to France now.
My informers tell me he's rejoined his regiment.
Oh, surely he hasn't snuck away without telling you?
But perhaps, having tasted defeat at home,
he's gone to vent his rage on a different enemy.
Defeat?
As you see.
His foe is in possession of the field.
Of his ancestral home. Of the woman he loved.
And in March, the rout will be complete
when Elizabeth gives birth to a Warleggan heir.
I look forward to Ross's congratulations...
if he ever returns.
But don't let me keep you from your scullery.
Perhaps you should barricade yourself in yours.
To what purpose?
To save yourself from being lynched.
Tankard! Harry! Triggs! Kemp!
Paul! Jud, don't do this, not for me.
I beg 'ee, lead them home, there's women and children inside.
If Warleggan have no care for ours, why should we care for his?
Don't do this! Save yourselves.
They have weapons.
So do we!
And it's time to see him taste his own medicine!
Be advised, we have firearms and won't hesitate to use them.
Come on, then, come on!
Don't tempt me, Mr Paynter.
I would dearly love to send you to the devil.
As 'ee tried to do once before.
And see how well that worked.
There'll be no second coming for 'ee this time.
Take aim!
No! Stop!
These people are your neighbours! Why do you treat them so?
They are threatening my family and must take the consequences.
Stop this!
Lost our nerve, have we? Didn't fancy the battlefields of France?
My servant informed me of one closer to home.
And on which side will you fight, Ross? For the civilised world?
Or the revolution?
On the side that stands for humanity...
which would seem to preclude yours.
So, what do you intend? To incite a riot? Quite your speciality!
These people need no inciting.
They would happily tear you limb from limb.
And with good cause!
But they would pay for it.
What care us? T'would be worth every penny!
I urge you to go home.
Do not give this man reason to see you hang.
You have families. Wives, children.
They are worth ten of this sorry excuse for a man.
Go home.
Should you not join your comrades?
Have a care, George.
Do you really want to provoke me?
You know I could call them back in an instant...at any time.
And this is what you came back for?
No.
Caroline?
Oh, my dear niece, to see you here! I'm...I'm all amazement!
- I am come back to care for you, Uncle./- Ah!
Now tell me what Dr Enys prescribes.
Here is his list of instructions.
I'm beginning to think I misjudged that young man.
You, of course, don't waste a moment's thought on him, do you, eh?
Not a single one, Uncle.
I trust you know we were never in any actual danger.
Ross thought to scare us, but in the end he was forced to back down.
I've been thinking of Harrow for Geoffrey Charles.
He's still overly attached to his mama. We must toughen him up.
You mean...send him away?
To one of the best schools in the country.
But he's so young.
And he will miss it here.
And I... Will have our child to attend to.
Geoffrey Charles has had you all to himself.
And now he must learn to be a man.
So she's with child.
George must be exultant...
...to be in my family's home and in full possession of...
Everything you hold dear.
Not everything, but many things I hold dear.
You'll get over it.
Demelza?
What are you doing?
I'm taking Jeremy...
to my father's house.
From there, who knows?
You're leaving me?
I came back for you!
I chose not to go to war.
'Tis not my concern what you choose, only what I choose.
And why would I choose a man whose heart belonged to another?
You are my wife! Raised from the gutter to be a great lady?
I'll never be such a one.
But what do I care?
For I am fierce and proud and steadfast and true
and I'll not settle for second best.
Why would you be?
Because you love Elizabeth! Because you will always love Elizabeth.
Because you cannot conceal your pain
that George now possesses her, body and soul!
Do you deny it?
I do not deny that I loved her.
Long before I set eyes on you, she was my first...
...perfect...
...untouchable love.
Whereas I am dull, imperfect and ordinary.
Not ordinary! But, yes, imperfect.
Human!
Real!
What that night with Elizabeth taught me... And God knows,
there should have been other ways for me to come to my senses,
but my arrogance...
my...idiocy...
...has been spectacular.
All I can say is...
after that night...
because of it...
...I came to see that if you take an idealised love...
...and bring it down to the level of an imperfect one...
...it isn't the imperfect one which suffers.
My true...
...real...
...and abiding love is not for her.
'Tis for you.
She will never come between us again.
What did you expect when you made a pact with the devil?
I hoped - still hope...
...that George may be more accommodating
once his child is born.
He may.
But are you willing to wait that long?
March is not so far away.
Unless it comes sooner.
What?
The child.
Why should it?