As Jamie and Claire settle into their new life in Paris, their plan to infiltrate the Jacobite Movement unfolds. Full recap and new clips from “Not in Scotland Anymore”, which first aired Saturday, April 16 at 9:00pm ET|PT on STARZ.
***SPOILER ALERT***
“Not in Scotland Anymore” opened with Claire and Jamie engaging in some HOT sexy times. But we quickly realized that something was amiss. In the middle of the scene Claire turned into Black Jack Randall, and we now knew that Jamie was having a bad dream. Suddenly, Jamie had a dagger in his hand and stabbed BJR until he was completely drenched in blood. As BJR was dying, Jamie woke up and he was covered in sweat. Claire also woke up and reached over to comfort him, and reassure Jamie that Black Jack was gone. But it didn’t matter: “He’s alive in my head. I cannot get him out.”
Claire promised that, in time, things would get better. But for tonight, Jamie couldn’t sleep. He left the room to go do some work (going over the week’s receipts). Before Jamie left, Claire reiterated that BJR was dead. “I know. See you in the morning, Sassenach.”
Jamie and Claire were in Paris in 1745, and the next morning we saw the splendor firsthand. Jamie and Claire we living in Jared’s apartment and seemingly unused to the grandeur. As Claire left for the day (decked out in the Christian Dior-inspired ensemble, off-white jacket paired with a black skirt), she was chastised by her maid Suzette for making her own bed and folding her own clothes. Despite Claire’s habits Suzette maintained that, given her station and the fact that she was pregnant, Claire just couldn’t do her own errands.
C: “Fine. I will endeavor to be sloppier in my personal habits!”
S: “Oh Madam! That would make me so happy.” (LOL)
After Suzette left to go re-tidy the rooms, Claire was met by another servant who led her out into the courtyard to meet the carriage. She reflected that running a great house in Paris and managing the help was more complicated than she imagined. As Claire rode out into the looked upon the quaint city streets and speculated how, in 40 years, the French Revolution would upend all of this. And the last time she, herself, was in Paris was to celebrate the end of World War II. Claire hadn’t been unable to climb the Eiffel Tower (closed down during the Nazi occupation of the city). And now that she was in Paris again, it just so happened to be 100 years before the Eiffel Tower was constructed! (The Eiffel Tower opened on March 31, 1889.)
Eventually, Claire alighted from the carriage and began to walk in the streets among market women. When the reached a “Master Raymond’s Apothecary” it seemed she had found what she was looking for. Claire walked inside and saw all sorts of curiosities (a stuffed crocodile, skeletons) She was greeted by Master Raymond’s assistant/housekeeper before Master Raymond, himself, walked in from another room. He greeted Claire, calling her Madonna, and noted that she was English. Master Raymond was also (grudgingly) impressed when Claire was able to identify the ingredients in one of his products “sang de crocodile”, which was actually pig’s blood. But fortunately for him, the ladies and gentlemen of the French court were more trusting (and foolish).
Claire had come to apothecary for Nepeta Cataria for Jamie’s insomnia. When Master Raymond inquired as to why her husband was having trouble sleeping, she admitted that it was the result of nightmares. Instead, he suggested another concoction. As Master Raymond worked, he observed that Claire had a professional knowledge of herbs. She identified herself as a healer, which intrigued Master Raymond even more. In fact, he knew that her name was Claire Fraser… he’d heard about her from Le Comte St. Germain and her part in the burning of his ship and cargo. However, Master Raymond and Le Comte were not friends. And since Claire was his enemy’s enemy, that made her Master Raymond’s friend.
Elsewhere, Jamie and Murtagh were out in a park practicing their sword fighting. Jamie was able to fight back successfully.
The Parisian gentlefolk looked on in shock as Murtagh tried to help Jamie strengthen his left hand.
Murtagh, of course had a smart response: “Have you never seen two men practicing the art of the sword?”
He then threatened to castrate them all if they didn’t disperse.
Jamie didn’t seem too upset. He speculated that they were probably curious since dueling was outlawed in France. But Murtagh continued to complain: the air smelled bad, there were too many people around, . He missed Scotland and the “fresh Scottish mud”. Murtagh even missed Rupert and Angus. But Jamie told him not to worry—they wouldn’t be in France forever. Murtagh was still put off. The original plan was to stop the Jacobite rebellion, but instead Jamie was now a wine merchant “Wine is for drinking, not for selling!”
Murtagh believed that to kill the snake you had to cut off its head, and the head of the Jacobite Movement was Prince Charles. What Jamie needed to do was kill him. Jamie was hesitant, after all, he wasn’t an assassin. But Murtagh believed that they could find someone in Paris to help them do the deed, maybe he would do it. “Is your longing for home worth the murder of a prince and the king?”
As Jamie saw it, if Charles were murdered, it might propel James into taking up the rebellion himself. Murtagh was still frustrated… he craved action and all Jamie provided was logic. This prompted another round of sparring.
Later when Jamie arrived home, he was greeted by Claire, who had a letter from Jared. It was an invitation from Prince Charles, asking Jamie to join him at Maison du Madame Elise, a brothel, to discuss political matters of the Scottish clans.
That night, Jamie and Murtagh met Prince Charles at his chosen location. They drank wine, watched a show put on by the courtesans (which included dildos). Charles loved the vulgarity of it all. Unsurprisingly, Murtagh was unimpressed and called Frenchmen “sodomites” who couldn’t please their women. Prince Charles didn’t appreciate Murtagh’s opinion or presence, but wherever Jamie went, Murtagh would also go.
After this, Charles turned to business. He mentioned how Jared had told him that Jamie was a man who spoke his mind. Charles hoped this was the case because he was tired of being surrounded by sycophants. He then asked Jamie about the state of affairs in Scotland and whether the clans were ready to rise up against the British. Jamie replied saying that the clans were too divided to join together to fight, and likely wouldn’t be for many years to come. Charles was clearly unhappy with this news and didn’t like Jamie’s defeatist sentiments. Wasn’t he a Jacobite? Jamie assured Charles that he hated the English (even mentioning the scars on his back), but didn’t the Prince want the truth?
Charles: “God demands that a Catholic King sit on the English throne! My father is that King!”
Jamie: “And I wish for that as well… wishing has proved time and time again to be no match for the muskets of the British army.”
Jamie then brought of the failure of the 1715 rising, but Charles was adamant that he wouldn’t make the mistakes of the past. He would be a decisive leader. Murtagh then interjected, asking Prince Charles if he’d ever been to Scotland. When Charles replied that he hadn’t (he grew up in Italy, where his father was in exile), Murtagh spoke of Scotland’s beauty and people. What was the incentive for Scots to leave their homes and families to pick up the sword? Certainly not just to put an outsider on the English throne.
Now that Charles heard the truth from two loyal Scots, what would he do? But Charles still wasn’t dissuaded. It was God’s will that he, Charles Stuart, by divine right, unite the clans. “Our cause shall succeed, but it cannot move forward without money. And money it shall have…”
This meant winning the support of the French Minister of Finance, Joseph Duverney. Since Charles was in Paris, unofficially, he couldn’t attend Court. Jamie, Lord Broch Tuarach, would have to go in his place and be the Prince’s advocate. Jamie agreed to take on this task… then Charles was off to have some of his own sexy times fun. Yet, according to Murtagh, it wasn’t too late to just slit the Prince’s throat and be done with it.
When Jamie and Murtagh arrived home, he told Claire everything that transpired. Claire said she was proud of him, that he was able to speak his mind and still get in the Prince’s good graces. Murtagh then called Charles a “blockhead” that would get them all killed. Jamie agreed, saying he wouldn’t trust Charles with Lallybroch’s vegetable patch, much less all of Scotland. Claire believed there was still time to change the Prince’s mind about going to Scotland to mobilize the clans, but Jamie was pretty certain that Charles was set on this course of action. If that was the case, they would have to make sure that Charles’ warchest remained empty.
Claire: “If the Scottish rebellion can be plotted in a French brothel, then perhaps it can be stopped at the French Court.”
So Claire reached out to her new friend, Louise de la Tour, Marquise de Rohan, for help securing an invitation to Versailles.
When Claire arrived at Louise’s home, she was in the middle of a FULL BODY waxing appointment. Louise also introduced Claire to a new acquaintance who she was chaperoning in Paris, Mary Hawkins. However, Claire seemed to recognize her name. Mary, a very small and modest girl, was in Paris with her Uncle Silas on business. Mary was also betrothed to the Vicomte Maigny, a wealthy, wart-ed widower. Claire immediately understood Mary’s morose demeanor. In the midst of their conversation, Louise agreed to take Claire and (with some hesitation) Jamie to Versailles. She would also arrange for Claire to have an appointment with her modiste.
Claire then watched as Louise got what we now know as a Brazilian wax.
Claire must have gotten inspired because later that night when she got into bed with Jamie, he was very shocked by the lack of hair in her lady-region!“Claire! What have you done to yourself. Yer honeypot… is bare.” Jamie was definitely intrigued and took a close-up look (and touch). Unfortunately, he still had flashes of his time with BJR 🙁
Two weeks later, Jamie, Murtagh, and Claire were ready to go to Versailles. And Claire wore THE RED DRESS, and that gown left everyone speechless, even Murtagh! Jamie accused Claire of being “mad” for exposing herself “down to her navel”, but then quickly came around. Anyway, Claire had her fan to help protect her modesty 😉
Louise led the way as she, Mary, Claire, Jamie, and Murtagh arrived at Versailles and promised to introduce Claire and Jamie to Monsieur Duverney. As they walked the room, a woman ran up to Jamie, hugging and kissing him. Jamie embraced her and introduced her as Annalise de Marrilac, an old “friend”. Annalise congratulated Claire on winning such a strong, passionate man as her husband. Annalise reflected on Jamie’s past affinity for fighting duels. He was very uncomfortable by the direction of the conversation and switched gears by bringing up how Annalise married the man he dueled. (The man was now dead of smallpox.) Annalise invited Jamie meet King Louis and take part in his dressing.
When Jamie and Murtagh walked into the King’s chambers, there was a large group watching as he struggled to use the toilet. (Louis was suffering from constipation.) Other men tried to make suggestions to Louis about moving his bowels. It shouldn’t surprise us that Jamie had a plan. He asked to be introduced to King Louis, and then suggested Louis eat parritch/porridge for breakfast every morning. Louis dismissed the suggestion, calling it “peasant food” and the crowd laughed.
Elsewhere, Claire, Louise, and other ladies shared different names for the male member. The Frenchwomen weren’t impressed with Claire’s English suggestions (“peter”, “prick”). Louise pointed out how Mary was over in a corner having a conversation with a young man. Claire, herself, went out to get some air and was followed by Monsieur Duverney (who Louise spoke to about meeting her English friend in the red dress).
When Monsieur Duverney found Claire, he told her that her dreams of meeting him had been answered, got down on his knees, and started kissing her feet. Jamie interceded and then pushed Monsieur Duverney into the river… then realized it was the Minister of Finance. Of course, Jamie blamed the dress.
Inside, Monsieur Duverney dried his wig by the fire and apologized to both Claire and Jamie for his “beastly behavior”. Jamie and Claire accepted the apology and expressed being happy to have Monsieur Duverney’s new friendship. He then invited Jamie to play a game of chess.
In the middle of the conversation, King Louis made his entrance with his mistress who was wearing an outrageous gown (affectionately called the “Nipple Dress” by Terry Dresbach) that exposed her breasts, which were pierced with gold, swan-shaped jewelry. (This totally put Claire’s dress to shame! However, Murtagh liked what he saw 😉 )
Murtagh was soon distracted when he saw the Duke of Sandringham across the room. Murtagh called Sandringham a cheat and drew his sword. Jamie was able to intervene and warn Murtagh that drawing his weapon in the presence of the king was punishable by death. He sheathed his sword, but promised the Duke would get his soon. When Claire arrived in the room, she didn’t hide her anger with Sandringham. The Duke said he had every intention of delivering that Petition of Complaint to the court, but was intercepted by “the brute”, Black Jack Randall. Jamie seemed to forgive Sandringham and even promised a case of Jared’s best wine.
Claire then spoke with the Duke alone, identifying their mutual support of the Jacobite cause. Of course, Sandringham’s involvement was a secret that could get him in big trouble as a traitor to the British Crown. While they talked, Sandringham’s secretary, Alexander Randall (BJR’s younger brother) came to tell him the fireworks were about to start. As they talked, Alexander remarked that he would tell BJR that he had met Claire… (WHATTTTTT?!) In fact, Black Jack was alive and Alex and received a letter from him in Scotland, posted just two weeks ago (LAWD!) According to Alex, BJR suffered wounds “in the line of duty”, but had recovered.
While Claire looked ready to faint, Sandringham could barely keep his smile hidden.
Claire couldn’t even pay attention to the fireworks display. She was more concerned with what would happen when Jamie found out that Black Jack was still alive, especially if his quest for vengeance ended up superseding their plan to stop the Jacobite rising.
If you missed tonight’s episode, you can watch “Not in Scotland Anymore” on STARZ Play online HERE or via the STARZ Play app.
What did you think of the episode? Can you believe Black Jack is alive? And what in the world is Sandringham up to? Share your thoughts in comments!
[Featured Image Courtesy of STARZ/Sony Pictures Television Inc. ]
