Poldark

Ross Vennor Poldark,

I am committing you for trial at the Bodmin assizes.

You must answer to judge and jury an' if you're found guilty...

You owe him no loyalty! It's common sense to testify against him!

It really is the end for me and Francis!

I'm a physician, ma'am. May I be of service?

Perhaps some brilliant defence will occur to me!

If only one knew who the judge would be!

Wentworth Lister.

Are you acquainted with him?

I advise you to reconsider your attitude.

It's no detriment to me if you choose to run your neck into a noose.

I beg you to let me through. 'Tis all the reason I've come to Bodmin.

My husband's life depends on it.

- Where will you go? - I have one last thing I must try.

If he hangs, he'll have only himself to blame.

Do not lose heart, Francis. Tomorrow is a new day.

A new day.

And it may never come.

Sounds lively out there!

The rabble are out in force tonight!

The list...

of those summoned to speak against you.

A long list.

Jud Paynter?

You know him?

He was my servant.

Well, now he's the Crown's.

And the testimony of a loyal servant against his former master.

Nail in the coffin.

Mistress Poldark!

How delightful!

Mr Penvenen! To think of us meeting again so soon!

And may I introduce my niece, Caroline?

Mistress Demelza Poldark of Nampara.

And Mr Unwin Trevaunance.

Are you here for the election, ma'am?

Er... No, ma'am, for the assizes.

Oh, yes.

Unwin, were you not telling me there was a Poldark to be tried this week?

That's my husband, ma'am.

And is he guilty?

What did he do?

Well, if I were the judge, I would sentence him to be returned

to his wife without delay!

That must be the crowd, clamouring for me.

Will you join me outside?

Why not?

I enjoy a baying mob.

May I be of service, ma'am?

Well, since you mention it...

For pity's sake! Must we always have these dire predictions?

Not once have I known you forecast an outcome

which was remotely cheering!

I'm not divining the future.

I'm entertaining myself with a game of Snap!

Go to Bodmin, Elizabeth. You'll never be satisfied till you do.

This election, 'tis a joke.

What difference do it make?

Who suffers when mines close?

Not fancy folk!

Stuffed to the gizzards wi' beef while we scrape by on black bread

- an' beech leaves! - In France they wud'n stand for it!

It's come here to Bodmin soon enough,

and it won't be long before it reaches you down in Truro.

Bin out there, 'ave 'ee?

'Tis like a powder keg!

Dr Enys! Wha' brings 'ee here?

Same as you, Prudie.

To speak f'r Cap'n Ross?

As I'm sure we all will.

Mr Paynter, are you ill?

Dammit, can a man not study th' innards of a jug without bein'

clepp'd malingerer?

I commend you to your studies.

Goin' out there? 'Ave a care!

'Twill take but a spark. Pow!

Your defence is proving more of a challenge than I'd anticipated.

D'you have the document from Harris Pascoe?

Your Last Will and Testament?

Influence?

I do not have that sort of influence, ma'am,

and it would prejudice your husband's case, not help it!

But if it was put the right way?

If it were put any way, ma'am... No. No. No.

I-I wouldn't dream of trying to persuade a judge.

Believe me, I... I sympathise.

I... I really do.

And I do dearly hope that the court look kindly on your husband.

But the surest way of attaining the opposite

would be to try and influence the judge.

Forgive me, sir.

I'm a little despairing.

Is he a kindly man? In appearance, I mean?

Justice Lister?

Somewhat severe.

Small and stout?

Tall and lean.

Does he like his port?

Resolutely sober.

If there's to be a reckoning,

it's as well to have one's affairs in order!

Little as there is of value.

My household effects, my shares in Wheal Leisure...

Mr Pascoe mentions a "Wheal Grace".

My father's old mine. It's derelict.

But still yours...

and still deemed an asset.

Not by me!

I deem it a worthless hole in the ground!

But by all means let me bequeath it to my wife,

along with my other debts and liabilities!

I really have left her nothing.

Oh!

Oh dear, my deepest apologies. Are you hurt?

Only my dignity, sir!

May I assist you to a chair? Some port, perhaps?

No, thank you. I never touch it, sir.

Are you stalking me, Dr Enys?

Not all, ma'am. But now I'm here, may I be of service?

Can you prescribe something to keep me awake?

You find the election boring?

Exceedingly dull. And the rabble out there insufferable.

Oh, I grant you it seems unpleasant.

But take each man for himself and he's likeable enough.

Are you a Jacobin, like Ross Poldark?

It's clear you don't know Ross Poldark.

No, but I expect to tomorrow, and I'd hope for better

entertainment than I've had here tonight.

I'm sure you're the sort who takes a window at Tyburn

for the pleasure of seeing someone choke to death?

And is it any business of yours if I am?

No.

I'm thankful not.

Gentlemen, I have here the results of the Bodmin constituency.

Chenhalls, Michael -- 2,250.

Dagge, Hugh -- 1,203.

Trevaunance, Unwin -- 1,203.

It's a tie for second place.

A farcical state of affairs.

There will have to be a second vote to decide the remaining seat!

There can be no question of that.

The key is to regard yourself as elected and act accordingly.

- But how? I'm tied in second place. - The chair, man! Take a second chair.

Claim your seat before Dagge has chance to contest it.

Come now. There's no time to lose.

Who are ye?

Um, well, I...

D'ye know me? D'ye speak for me?

I'm your elected member...

Who elected ye? Did I?

Did any here?

Ye don't speak for me! But maybe this will!

Turn it round!

Get... Get me back inside.

I hope he brought his rosewater!

There'll be a reckoning, mark 'ee!

Commoners don't hold with being tramped underfoot.

Bring down the fancy folk and let the poor rise!

Nay, 'ee shan't muzzle me!

I'm a free man. I've a right to speak!

Apparently not.

This has not helped our cause.

Mission accomplished. Unwin has established his claim.

Almost at the expense of his own life!

Is it always like this in Bodmin?

I couldn't say. I live near Truro.

I'm only here for tomorrow's trial.

You speak for Ross Poldark?

I look forward to seeing you acquit yourself.

Happily it's not I who is on trial.

Are you quite certain of that?

You flatter yourself, ma'am.

Are all men so odiously conceited?

I shouldn't put conceit as the particular property of one sex.

How gracious of you to correct me, sir!

I wonder you're so solicitous for one you so clearly despise.

You're mistaken, madam. I neither solicit nor despise.

That rabble! Have they no respect for their betters or for the law?

I mean, someone needs to take them

by the scruff of the neck and... and...

Oh, good God! What is the woman doing?

She'll hang her husband if she's not careful!

So let me ask Your Lordship,

how can a body judge if a person be telling the truth?

Well...

For some of them be so downright convincing and have all

the evidence to back 'em up, but if the evidence be false...?

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

For instance, if a body did know the truth about an accused,

wouldn't he -- or she -- then be obliged to speak?

Most assuredly. In the appropriate place,

which would be the court.

Then put the case, sir, that a body know'd some other body

who paid money so that other bodies might speak lies.

You list a great many bodies, ma'am.

Are any of them here now?

Well, in truth, seeing as you do ask me directly, Your Lordship...

Mistress Demelza, what a pleasure to see you.