Renegade Nell

Sofia, I will teach you everything I know about the arts.

- Newgate Prison knew your name. - Why?

- You're going to die, Nelly Jackson. - Sofia?

Rasselas! Rasselas!

- The Queen is a traitor. - You are a Jacobite.

The rightful monarch of this country is James Stuart.

This time tomorrow we'll be planning the wedding.

Or you'll be dead.

If the verdict is guilty, they'll hang you immediately.

The guard will allow me to take the Queen in hand

so James's troops can advance without opposition.

You can end all of this, Sofia, just by telling the truth.

Don't you know what they'd do to Thomas?

- Leave me alone! - What about Nell?

Go back to her.

What are the news sheets saying?

- They just say... - Nell Jackson eats babies.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. People won't believe it.

This will light a fire under her.

We are gonna smash the presses up.

People need to know that the truth matters.

Or as I like to call her...

Ooh!

I said all right, all right, all right.

Listen, you'll get your news, you'll get your news.

- All right. - All right, all right. Take some.

- Her horn-ed head. - And scaly skin.

- Are plain for all to see. - Are plain for all to see.

- Monster! - Monster!

Nelly! Nelly Jackson!

- Gin? - Gin.

- Gin! - Hyah!

Nell Jackson.

- Nell Jackson. - Jackson, Jackson, Jackson.

- You're a disgrace here. - Jackson.

Nell Jackson.

No denying!

Right.

George!

What are you doing?

Traitors at court.

Trouble a foot. Godolphin sent to the Tower.

And he will pay for his betrayal with his life.

Godolphin was one.

There will be more Jacobites who wish to see James on the throne.

He's a child,

and will be little more than a puppet for whoever is behind all of this.

You believe there may be more traitors at court?

I'm sure of it.

Then you cannot stay here.

I won't hide, Poynton.

If your suspicions are correct,

and there are men within the court who wish you harm.

Well, I fear there will be little I can do,

even with charge of your Bodyguard.

Your Majesty, the people need their Queen.

Allow me to take you to a place of safety.

Yes.

Nelly.

- Nelly. - George.

Nelly.

Fuck.

Nelly.

- This is the place? - Yeah.

All right, let's go.

Nelly Jackson. It's Billy. Billy Blind.

What are you doing?

What, what is this Billy?

I've been thinking.

All this smashing up the presses, isn't it sort of playing into their hands?

- Whose hands? - Everyone's.

You steam in there all Nelly Big Boots,

tomorrow it will be "Three-headed Jackson storms the papers."

You've seen how this stuff spreads.

These news sheets are powerful.

They don't mind using people.

Well, maybe we should be

- using them back. - Using them back. Yeah, but how?

Well, I was hoping you'd come up with that.

Billy?

I should've known.

- What? - Moggerhangar.

It's Devereux's Mrs. This must be her place.

Lady Moggerhangar is much more than someone's "Mrs".

She's a pioneer of the printed word.

A maverick.

Yeah. That's one word for her.

Wow.

No, get out! Out!

- I shall have you removed by force. - You have to believe me.

All right. All right.

- Mr. Rasselas! - Hey.

- You been selling stories on us? - No.

- Explains why you legged it. - I didn't leg it. I mean I did.

But not like that. I wouldn't... I would never sell a story on you.

On any of you.

- Polly Honeycombe. Nice... - No, Polly.

No.

After the madness in the prison, I lost Nell. And then...

Sofia was there.

- At Newgate? - Yeah. Well, no. Sort of.

That dark magic? It was her.

- You what? - Sofia.

- She was behind all of it. - But how?

There's this posh fella, Poynton,

he's got in her head and well, Newgate ain't the half of it.

They're going after the Queen.

What?

- We need to speak to Moggerhangar. - You again?

If you're going to try and sell me some tall tale

about Lord Poynton...

- It's not a tall tale. - Rasselas heard him.

The Earl of Poynton is one of Queen Anne's most trusted advisors.

- Not a traitor. - I told you he wouldn't listen.

We should go to the palace to warn someone.

You think anyone there's more likely to believe us?

But if it's in the papers, everyone believes them.

We don't print unsubstantiated stories.

- You don't mind printing rot about Nelly. - Nelly?

So, you're Nelly Jackson?

Nell Jackson.

Well, you're the third Nell Jackson I've met this morning.

Though at least she made an effort.

Now, if you'll excuse me. I have a newspaper to edit.

What? Well, hang on.

- No, I won't hang on. - No, but this is news.

It's a proper news.

Yes. I cannot print anything without Lady Moggerhangar's approval.

Well, so tell her I'm here then. Because I'd also like a word about this...

- Whoa! Get down! - About this guff.

About my Pa being a poacher.

Who substantiated that?

You... You're... You are Nell Jackson!

I did say.

- Let's not do anything hasty. - Please. Just don't hurt us.

No, no. No, I ain't gonna hurt no one.

That's the thing. See, it's all a big misunderstanding.

You say you need Moggerhangar's sign-off?

I'm sure, I'm sure we can make an exception.

No, we'll go through the proper channels.

That way you can tell everyone I'm not how they think I am.

Just fetch your old Mogs for me.

- That'd be lovely. - Mog... Lady Moggerhangar...

is...

- Is in court. - I can't...

George.

- Mr. Devereux has been hanged. - No. No.

Not yet.

Actually, we prepare for both outcomes.

Should we help him, Nelly?

We'll wait here for Moggerhangar.

She'll have greased enough palms to get him off. Just you see.

Fine.

To ward off disease.

One can't be too careful when it comes to people.

As usual, the victims will represent themselves.

As there are so many in this case,

I understand there is a nominated spokesperson.

Mrs. Miller?

- You speak for the prosecution? - Yes. Your Grace.

My Grace.

Sir!

Right?

Sir George Horner.

You have been engaged as legal counsel for the defendant?

Yes, my Lord.

Very well.

The jury must now decide.

Guilt or innocence.

Let us proceed.

Sir, could I ask you to clarify for us your name?

Charles Devereux.

- Of 32 Hanover Square? - Indeed.

Do you go by any other names?

I once had a sweetheart who insisted on calling me "pooky".

Your guess is as good as mine.

So, you have never used the name Isambard Tulley?

No. For that is not my name.

Though like everybody else, I have heard of the fellow.

So how then, does a respectable gentleman such as yourself, Mr. Devereux,

come to be accused of being

one of London's most notorious highway robbers?

It's Nell Jackson's fault.

- The murderess, Nell Jackson? - The very one.

You see, I was on my way home to Mayfair.

I'd been visiting friends

and had enjoyed a little too much frivolity.

So, I was just nodding off

when a curious smell roused me from my slumber.