Poldark Four: Episode Six
4/5
Ross has a prior engagement, with Prime Minister Pitt the Younger Ross’s poor relief scheme has succeeded in Cornwall and won the approval of Prime Minister. Pitt gives Ross a commission: ‘Your impulse is sound, and I believe it’s time will come…help those who cannot help themselves.’
‘Nat Pearce has croaked’. Oh, calamity! Pascoe’s stands guarantor for those funds. Meanwhile, Pascoe’s son-in-law St John (the prat) banks with the Warleggans, which is to say he’s horribly in debt to the Warleggans. Based on these facts, George decides to revive his literary career. And, as we know from previous pamphlets about Captain R. P., he has a flair for the dramatic. He kindly informs those who entrust their savings to Pascoe’s bank that it is ‘on the verge of insolvency’ owing to Nat Pearce and his embezzling. He therefore advises them ‘to withdraw…deposits from Pascoe’s bank without delay’
There is a rumour abroad that ‘Pascoe’s be no longer a safe place to keep money’. Judas indeed! Demelza has to make a decision about whether to leave the Poldark nest egg in Pascoe’s charge or to remove it to safety elsewhere. She deals with this with the guile, good sense and generosity of spirit which we have come to expect from her. She not only leaves all their current funds in the bank, but proves that Harris Pascoe is not friendless and seeks a loan from Lord Falmouth. This loan is not to pay their miners but to put in, in coin, to Pascoes to reassure creditors. This becomes a fraction pantomime-esque with Sam forgetting his lines and Prudie and Demelza almost winking at him and coaxing him through it. However, we can forgive that due to the general aplomb with which Demelza acts. When Ross, much later, declares that she is worth all Westminster he does not exaggerate!
Rosina is still seriously excellent. When Sam tries to slag off his brother (or at least to apologise clumsily for his brother while throwing shade on his actions) to Rosina, she sets him right, in a most christian and generous way, ‘twas not a whim, sir, for ‘e loved she before ‘e ever saw me and when she was widowed ‘e felt ‘e must go to her, so I respect him. I don’t respect ‘er.’ She later tells Drake to hush his creening and that if she can stay and bear it, so can he. Sam later shows off his less godly, more human side by warning Jacka Hoblyn not to seek revenge against Drake: ‘And though the lord do exort us not to vengeance, for my brother’s sake, I will repay.’ Boy do we love him all the more for this strength and realness and loyalty.
‘She’s free now yet she’ve turned him away, if she truly loved ‘im, why did she so?’ Well Rosina, this is the question on everyone’s lips in the first part of this episode. Why on earth can’t Morwenna and Drake be blissfully happy now that the evil Osborne is gone? And then, it becomes clear. Morwenna, my dear, you have the harshest luck. She finds it impossible to put all thoughts of the devil behind her because she is pregnant with his child (and also because his mother appears to have taken over her life).
Elizabeth is pregnant, and feeling woozy. A la Ross’s advice that a second pre-term child would put the matter of Valentine’s parentage to bed (so to speak) once and for all, she is attempting to keep this quiet, especially from George. Ross and Elizabeth are on good terms again owing to his guidance of Geoffrey Charles. As evident in the last episode, she has found a genuine (although potentially fragile) contentment with George. Ross puts it most succinctly when speaking to Caroline: ‘I could never have made Elizabeth happy… she requires a life of ease and luxury…’ ‘And you require?’ ‘A wife who is willing to dirty her hands’. Yes Ross, precisely.
Caroline returns to Cornwall (for a brief time) and to Dwight (hopefully forever). She still won’t discuss Sarah or any future children with Dwight but the fact she is back in his arms must be a good thing.
Much of the rest of the episode is dedicated to banking matters. Ross seeks to reinstate Pascoe’s Bank after to the vile letters and the deliberate recall of St John’s loan do their worst. He declares that the offer of Pascoe becoming Chief Clerk at Basset’s Bank is ‘to be spat at.’ Sir Francis Basset once again proves to be great ally, with a little persuading from Ross. He is persuaded to make Pascoe a partner and then almost as a postscript adds the name of Ross Poldark to the newly coined, Cornish Bank.
Elizabeth is forced to declare her hand when she faints at the opening of the first Cornish Hospital. It may have ruined her plans but it does save Ross and George from having a serious, and very public, fight when Ross decides to call George out on his letter.
And so to the next episode, Caroline has asked that Dwight go with her to London and Ross, finally has asked a delighted Demelza to join him in Westminster. The episode ends with their joy at being together in London and a renewal of their relationship which has been so difficult since Hugh’s death.
Episode 7, BBC 1, 9pm, 22nd July