Outlander: Purpose

Last time on “Outlander:” Jamie managed to get a meeting with Prince Charlie. He and Claire realized they had to cut off any chance of him receiving money from the French king. Claire’s friend Louise invited them to join her and ward Mary Hawkins at Versailles, introducing them to the Minister of Finance. After a rather wet start, he became good friends with the Frasers, which was a relief to them.

Claire and Jamie found the Duke of Sandringham, who tried to grovel about giving the letter to Black Jack. He and Claire exchanged words before he introduced her to his secretary, Alexander Randall. She learned he was the brother of Black Jack and also learned that her foe was very much alive.
Now, she has to tell Jamie.

Or does she?

(Yes, yes she does).

Night turns to early morning as Jamie and Murtagh return from another night at the brothel with Prince Charles. He grabs a glass of wine and changes, ready to start a rather busy day. He has inspectors coming to Jared’s warehouse, is supposed to play chess with Duveney and then has another night with Prince Charles to look forward to. But he figures it’s worth a few nights of missed sleep and encourages Claire to go back to bed for their child’s sake.

She, though, is feeling a bit useless while Jamie does all the work. But he says her days with Louise might produce something useful. So he tells her to enjoy her day there as he hurries down the stairs. He pauses but only to ask if she’s seen his wooden snake. She hasn’t but she’ll have the servants do a search of the house. He thanks her and leaves.

(Wishes there was more for her to do)

Claire visits Louise and plays a card game with her and Mary. Mary seems particularly upset and she finally announces that she doesn’t want to marry a Frenchman. She tells Claire that she found out they do horrible things to women in bed, things men in England or even Scotland wouldn’t dare do. Claire asks for clarification and Mary stutters out that they put their…male thing…between a woman’s legs and enter her. Louise pretends to be shocked and Mary can tells she’s being teased. Claire says that she needs to have a talk with Mary, who keeps insisting that they don’t do that where she comes from. Louise asks if that’s the moon and Mary replies that it’s Sussex.

("Oh, honey")

That triggers something for Claire. She recalls being back in Inverness with Frank as he pulled out a family Bible. It starts with the marriage of Mary Hawkins from Sussex to Captain Jonathan Randall. Mary is Frank’s ancestor and she has no clue why Claire is looking at her like that.

(The Randall family Bible)

Claire leaves, needing to process everything. Including the fact that Black Jack is alive and on a collision course with their lives. She returns home and finds Murtagh having sex with her maid, Suzette. Claire lashes out at them but he’s unfazed, just asking her what’s wrong. She comes clean about Black Jack being alive and Murtagh agrees that they can’t tell Jamie, that it will break him.

(Concerned!Murtagh is concerned)

In Versailles, Jamie and Duveney play chess. As Jamie beats him, he asks Duveney to come meet Prince Charles. He convinces the minister that the Prince will need a lot of financial support and the cause is in shambles. But Duveney agrees to go as a courtesy.

(Pondering his move)

Claire pays a visit to Master Raymond, surprised to see the Comte de St. Germaine there as well. They exchange looks as the comte leaves and Claire asks why Master Raymond does business with someone he despises. Master Raymond is like “He has money.” Claire notices he has monkfish, which is highly poisonous. He tells her that he has it for his own reasons but that he doesn’t sell to people. If someone comes looking for poison, he gives them something that will make the other person violently ill…but they will ultimately survive.

She asks for something to prevent pregnancies and he gives her an odd look. Claire replies that it’s for her lady’s maid, which amuses him as it’s usually the other way around. He gives her something and then notices that Claire seems off. She reveals that she feels useless in Paris, just flitting about social engagements. She misses being a nurse. He suggests she go to L’Hopital des Anges and ask to speak to Mother Hildegard.

("Someplace you can be useful...")

Claire enlists Murtagh to escort her to L’Hopital, which has poor people lining the steps as sisters give out soup to the people. I half-expect them to burst out singing “Les Mis” songs.

Look down, look down and see the beggars at your feet
Look down and show some mercy if you can

Inside, Claire finds Mother Hildegard and tells her that she’s a healer. She says she wants to help. Mother Hildegard looks unsure but gives Claire a chance. Sister Angelique brings Claire around, telling her their two doctors aren’t really doctors but those dabbling in the medicines. Claire’s like “Oh dear Lord.”

Mother Hildegard watches Claire, who is back in her element. She empties bed pans and then spots a young woman nearby. There is some urine waiting for someone, probably the person who practices urology. Claire tastes the urine and notices something off about it. She asks the woman if she’s thirsty and the woman says she always is. And she’s always hungry, but nothing sates her. Mother Hildegard asks Claire what her diagnosis is, forcing Claire to recall the 18th term for diabetes. She says “sugar illness” and Hildegard confirms. Claire says the woman won’t survive much longer, which Hildegard also agrees.

(Mother Hildegarde might be impressed)

At the brothel, Jamie introduces Duveney to Charles. Prince Charlie explains that he knows the king can’t support a lost cause but he isn’t a lost cause. And he won’t require much by way of monetary support because he’s already lined up money from wealthy supporters. Jamie is surprised and Duveney is like “Tell me more.” As Charlie explains how much he has pledged, Jamie drinks his wine and worries.

(Jamie needs lots of alcohol. STAT)

Jamie returns home and is surprised to find it empty. He searches for Claire and summons Suzette, who informs him she went out with Murtagh. So he sits and waits, trying to do work as the hours drag on and the night falls.

Claire finally returns and Jamie’s all “Where were you? Do you know what time it is? And what is that I smell?” She explains everything she did at the hospital and he’s like “Uh, was that safe now that you’re pregnant?” And she waves him off…until he pretty much storms out of there, yelling that he needed his wife after spending all his time trying to stop the Jacobite Rebellion. Murtagh is like “I told you he wouldn’t like it.”

(Lover's quarrel)

She follows Jamie but he storms out, saying he’s going back to the brothel. Claire goes to bed as Murtagh looks like a shipper trying to figure out how to put their pairing back together. Suzette says that it’s to be expected when love leaves the marriage bed. As a maid, she knows everything. Including what doesn’t happen between her master and mistress. This gives Murtagh something to mull over.

At the brothel, one of the ladies gets all painted up as the men ogle her. Jamie, though, is brooding at a table. This allows him to notice a young boy who goes through and pickpockets the patrons. Jamie gives chase, finally catching the boy in an alley. After some arguing—and Jamie promising the boy he doesn’t want to have sex with him—Jamie reveals he wants to hire the boy. The boy is intrigued and agrees. Jamie manages to recover his snake from the boy and is like “What have I gotten myself into?”

(Fergus!)

Claire wakes up and heads downstairs, noticing the candles are lit. She meets the young boy, who compliments her breasts and is confused when she doesn’t seem flattered. He says the women at the brothel always like it. Murtagh takes him out to his room as Jamie comes in. She demands to know who the boy is and he says his name is Fergus, which they agreed was more manly than his French name. Jamie explains that Fergus is a pickpocket and Claire wonders what use they have of him. When Jamie points out that Fergus can steal letters going between Prince Charlie and his supporters, let them copy them and then put them back, Claire realizes her husband has a good plan. She tells him so as well.

And so we get scenes of Fergus picking pockets on the French streets as the rabble gather round. And once again, all I can hear is the music from Les Mis:

At the end of the day you’re another day older
And that’s all you can say for the life of the poor
It’s a struggle, it’s a war
Once more day standing about, what is it for?

Murtagh and Jamie break the codes of the letters, though one leaves them stumped. It looks like it’s just music but they know there must be something more. Murtagh suggests someone they could ask to decipher the music for them.

(Murtagh has an idea)

At L’hopital, Mother Hildegard brings Claire to a man who is lying in agony. She can tell there is an infection but they haven’t been able to pinpoint where it is. Mother Hildegard’s dog, Bouton, finds a small wound and Claire cuts it open to find something inside. She removes it and they can start to treat the man.

Jamie appears and asks for Mother Hildegard. She looks over the music and says it looks like something her friend Bach wrote. Claire is like “Wait, Johann Sebastian Bach?” and Mother Hildegard is “Yes. Writes nice music but will fade into obscurity.” Meanwhile, Claire has to bite the inside of her cheek. Mother Hildegard explains that whoever sent the music made changes and that the key keeps changing all over the place, which is odd. Jamie thanks her and he leaves, Claire deciding to go with him.

(She's either amused or pleased)

At home, they finally break the code. The key changes allow them to figure out which notes they need to figure out what the letter says. It is a letter promising support and money, signed “S.” They figure out it is from the Duke of Sandringham and decide to have him over for dinner to convince him not to support Prince Charlie. Giddy, Jamie goes off to fetch them wine.

(They've made up!)

Murtagh comes up to Claire and tells them that if they invite Sandringham, he’ll bring Alex Randall and then Jamie will learn Black Jack is still alive. He reverses his earlier decision and tells her she needs to tell Jamie the truth. Claire looks torn.

Jamie returns with wine and he toasts Claire. As they drink, she decides not to tell him just yet.
That’s not going to come back to bite her in the ass at all. (Note the sarcasm).

It’s painful to see Jamie and Claire so far apart, emotionally. You just want them to kiss and makeup, but they can’t. Not when Jamie is still so traumatized and is internalizing it. Not when Claire doesn’t have the tools to help him better. But I’m sure these two crazy kids will make it. And not just because I’ve read the book.

I loved Fergus in this. He’s adorable!

Next week: Keep your friends close and invite your enemies to dinner! 

Screen caps from here.