Frank desperately searches for his missing wife, while Claire tries to come to terms with her new marriage. Claire is faced with an emotional quandary as a life-altering opportunity presents itself.
Both Sides Now starts at the Inverness Police Station. Two constables confer about Frank’s presence and the man in charge of Claire’s disappearance cases takes a tea cup of whiskey to talk to Frank. He tells Frank he’s sorry and he wishes there were more he could do. Frank tells the constable in no uncertain terms that he had no faith in his department and his expectations have been met. The constable tells Frank that Claire likely ran off with another man and Frank defends her.
Meanwhile in 1743, Claire and Jamie sit on a hillside together. Jamie is curious about whether the intimacy between them is usual. Is their attraction normal? Claire tells him it is often like this but that what they have is different. An arrow lands in the grass and Jamie pushes Claire down telling her to stay that way while he investigates. Jamie smiles after plucking up the arrow and greets a man named Hugh Munro who clearly can’t speak. Jamie introduces Claire to Hugh who wishes to drink to Jamie’s new wife. Hugh then gives Claire a wedding gift of a dragonfly in amber which she finds beautiful.
Jamie notices Hugh’s Gaberlunzies and tells Claire they are official licenses to beg within the borders of a parish. Claire is amazed at how many Hugh has and Jamie explains that Hugh is a special case. Hugh was captured by Turks at sea and made a slave. His tongue was cut out and boiling oil on his legs. Jamie explains that is how they make Christian men convert to the Mussulmen religion. Though Hugh makes it clear he did not convert.
Jamie asks Hugh of his news and Hugh and Jamie begin a conversation much like Sign Language. Jamie thanks Hugh for the information and the men say goodbye. Claire steps forward and kisses Hugh on the cheek much to Hugh’s delight.
Jamie tells Claire that it is possible to get the price of his head. A man named Horrocks, a Red Coat deserter, says he knows what happened to the man Jamie is accused of murdering. Horrocks wants Jamie to meet up with him though Jamie doesn’t know if he can be trusted. Jamie tells Claire that it gives him a chance to finally go home with his bride, Claire Fraser, Lady Lallybroch. Jamie kisses Claire and they hug.
In 1945, Frank is with Rev. Wakefield who is tossing out theories of what could have happened to Claire. The Reverend believe it is possible Claire fell into the river and was swept downstream nearly twenty miles where there are caves she could be living in and surviving on frogs and fish. Frank thinks it unlikely after seven weeks and Rev. Wakefield believes Claire could do it as she’s smart and strong.
We see Mrs. Graham come in with tea with a young boy trailing after her. Mrs. Graham tells the Reverend that tea is served and Roger adds, “and biscuits.” The boy asks if he can have a biscuit and takes one of the plate to which Mrs. Graham says, “you mean another biscuit.” The Reverend teasingly says, “Have you been eating all my biscuits Roger Wakefield,” while giving a little chase to the laughing Roger.
Frank looks over the evidence board Rev. Wakefield has created as Roger goes upstairs. Frank tells them he needs something stronger and goes to the pub.
Frank sits at the bar when a woman joins him and calls him by name. She says her name is Sally (though it isn’t her real name). Sally tells Frank that she knows where the Highlander is and she can show him. She tells him to meet her on Drummond Lane at half past twelve and to come alone with the award. Frank wants to know if Claire is with the Highlander but Sally has no information.
Back in 1743, the MacKenzie’s are sitting around a fire and Rupert is telling them the story about the Water horse’s Wife, while Jamie and Claire sit together. Jamie tells her it will be Yule time by the time they reach Leoch and Claire asks if they hang stockings by the fire. Jamie asks if she means to dry them off and she dismisses her own comment.
Jamie notices the horses are restless, as to the other men. Jamie tells Claire not to move and to hide behind a fallen tree when he tells her. He gives her a rather large knife. The men subtly move around as Rupert continues his story and then Jamie yells to Claire to go. Fighting ensues between the men and their assailants. Dougal goes down and Ned shoots one of their foes ending the skirmish. Dougal tells us they are Grants and that they lost a horse and three bags of grain but none of the money.
Ned asks everyone if they saw his shot which was 20 paces if it was 1. All the men start laughing and Jamie hugs and kisses Claire.
In 1743, Frank meets Sally who assumed he’d be early. She shows him into an alleyway where he is attacked for the reward money. Frank takes out a baton (or black jack) and proceeds to mercilessly beat the two men who attacked him. Frank proceeds to beat the downed men until “Sally” tries to stop him. Frank turns on Sally and strangles her asking if there is no Highlander. She confesses there is not and he finally lets her go.
Back at Rev. Wakefield’s, Frank has told the Reverend what happened. The Reverend tells him many men have drunk of that dark cup. The Nazi’s have drunk of such a cup. He tells Frank he’s sipped of it but to make that sip his last. He proceeds to tell Claire to go back to Oxford and let Claire go as she’s let Frank go. Frank asks if Wakefield believes Claire let him and he gives Sherlock Holmes philosophy, “When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains however improbable, must be the truth.”
Back in 1743; Claire, Jamie, and Rupert are looking for the knife Jamie gave Claire the previous night when they were attacked. Rupert gives the knife back to Claire who says, “It is too long and heavy for me.” Rupert remarks the ladies say that to him all the time. Claire doesn’t seem convinced.
Ned tells Jamie if he’s going to give Claire a knife he needs to so her how to us it. Willie says that Angus is a good man with a blade though Claire protests learning. Jamie tells her every man and woman should learn to defend themselves especially if they are married to a Fraser, and then kisses her. Claire smiles at him as Dougal looks on. Dougal says Claire needs a sgian-dubh which Jamie says is a hidden dagger. Ned tells her he keeps his somewhere private and pulls it out of his “private place.”
Angus tells her she will mostly want to wield the knife underhanded unless she’s coming down on someone from above with a great force. Murtagh thinks the only good weapon for a woman is poison which Dougal believes has deficiencies in combat. Angus gives Claire the blade tells her to aim at the heart but to avoid the breast bone and the cartilage there otherwise she’s be without a knife. Angus uses Willie to show her the kill from behind and tells her to stab under the last rib and to stab up into the kidney. The men laugh as she practices while Jamie and Murtagh seem pleased with her quick learning.
Back in 1945, Frank is looking through Claire’s suitcase where he finds a photo of them together on what appears to be their wedding day.
Meanwhile, Jamie and Claire have gone off for some alone time. Jamie tells her he told the men they went looking from some of her wee herbs. Jamie proceeds to enjoy Claire and asks if the wanting her ever stops. Jamie tells her he now knows why the church calls sex a sacrament because he feels like God Himself when he’s inside of her. Claire starts laughing at him and asks if that is a foolish thing to say. She tells him it is and he “gives her want she deserves.”
Jamie and Claire are consumed in passion when someone pulls a gun on them. Jamie is forced away from Claire by two Red Coat deserters. Claire tries to cover herself but the deserter named Harry wants a piece of Claire. He proceeds to try to rape her but Claire grids herself and stabs Harry in the back like Angus showed her. Jamie takes the opportunity to kill the other deserter and then grabs Claire and carries her away from the dead men.
At the Manse in 1945, Mrs. Graham argues with Rev. Wakefield about not telling something to Frank. The Reverend thinks her “knowledge” is superstition. Frank comes down to see what is happening and Mrs. Graham tells him about the stories of the stones. She says the stories have been passed down through the generations of families. She continues by telling him certain people at certain times of the year they can travel through time by way of the stones.
Frank looks upset and asks her when or where Claire would have gone. Mrs. Graham tells him the journey is often different for different people. Frank says he’s going back to Oxford in the morning. Mrs. Graham asks if he heard her and he tells her he doesn’t share her beliefs.
In 1743, Jamie kneels before Claire apologizing that he’d not taken proper precautions and that he was unable to stop the man. Claire tells him it is all right but she’s clearly in shock. Jamie tells her she’s cold, like ice. Dougal and the men rush over and say they heard a shot. Jamie goes to talk to them.
Claire tells us she’s in shock and that her mind was jumping around in her life and what it felt like to puncture the man’s kidney. Claire tells us Jamie clearly wants her to talk to him but she’s afraid if she gave reign to her emotions she’d tell Jamie things she’d rather keep hidden.
Dougal tells Jamie the men were deserters which means no one will be looking for them. Dougal tells Jamie that Horrocks is much like these men and Jamie should go alone. Jamie agrees.
In 1945, Frank leaves Inverness leaving behind Claire’s suitcase and belongings.
In 1743, the party moves on and stops at a copse of trees where Jamie tells Claire she will stay with Willie because she’ll be safer than around Horrocks. Claire tells him she can look after herself which she proved earlier. Jamie tells her she needn’t prove it again. Jamie tells her to stay there and promises to be back. She tells him not to make promises he can’t keep (which seems a dig at his earlier promise to protect her with his body: The Wedding). He tells her he’ll keep his promise and asks her to swear that she’ll be there when he returns. She promises and Claire realizes she’s mad because she forgot her plan to return to 1945 and Frank.
In 1945, Frank is driving and passes the turn to Craig Na Dun. Frank backs up and goes up to the stones.
In 1743, Willie tells Claire he needs to “take care of some personal business.” Claire tells him to go at least 50 yards away and downwind. Claire starts walking when she sees Craig Na Dun in the distance. Claire takes off running to the stones hoping to get back.
We see Frank running up the hill to the stones in 1945 as Claire approaches in 1743. Frank weeps at the stones finally calling out to Claire at the stones and in 1743 Claire appears to hear him. Claire calls out to him. Frank calls out again and Claire responds telling him to wait for her. Frank appears to hear her though we hear birds in the background. Frank looks around saying her name again as Claire goes to touch the stones in 1743 she is pulled away by Red Coats.
In 1945, Frank looks around the stones and then leaves.
Meanwhile, Claire is bound and taken away in a cart bound for Fort William where Black Jack Randall holds power (their third encounter). Claire tells us she’s has the whole journey to plan. Randall points out that she still wears her old wedding ring and she tells him it is a sentimental attachment. He tells her he doesn’t believe she has a sentimental bone in her body.
Randall seems perplexed as to why Dougal would have her become family rather than let him interrogate her. Randall toast to the King which Claire reciprocates. Randall says he’s happy to hear she still sees him as her King and she tells him all MacKenzie’s are loyal. Randall says that is the most amusing thing he’s heard all week. Claire then speculates he hasn’t been amusing himself by flogging innocent prisoners to which he tells her he takes floggings rather seriously.
Randall tells her he plans to find out her secrets and takes a drink of wine while she tells him he should ask the Duke of Sandringham. This shocks Randall and he chokes on his wine. Randall walks away to clean up the wine he spilled.
Claire remembers the discussion Rev. Wakefield and Frank had back in 1945 about Black Jack Randall’s patron who they believed was the Duke of Sandringham which seems to be confirmed by Randall’s reaction.
Randall is rattled and asks what she knows about the Duke. Claire tells him they are both in Sandringham’s employ. Randall tells her the Duke would have told him and she chuckles asking if the Duke tells Randall all his secrets. Randall says he will send a message to Sandringham to ask him and Claire tells him it is an excellent idea as the Duke will be impressed by his discovery of her identity. She then tells him, “Or perhaps your disruption of the Duke’s carefully laid plans will not be rewarded. Perhaps he will be displeased and take measures to terminate your special relationship, withdrawal the protection to which you’ve become accustomed and thus leave you at the mercies of your superior officers and local authorities.” She proceeds to tell him it would be safer to say nothing all the while tying Randall’s cravat.
Claire proceeds to leave when Randall says she must mean the Duchess and asks Claire is she’s met her. Claire says she’s never had the pleasure. Randall says an agent of the Duke is an agent of the Duchess to which Claire says they have been in communication. Randall has Claire clarify she’s been in contact with the Duchess before telling her the Duke has never been married.
Randall pulls a rope out of his desk and Claire makes a break for the door. Corporal Hawkins brings Claire back to Randall who binds her. Randall dismisses Hawkins and tells him not to return no matter what he hears. Randall pulls a knife out of his desk as Claire screams for help. Claire retreats to a wall where Randall cuts the ties on her dress and pulls out her stomacher while questioning her about who she is and what she knows about the Jacobites. Randall rips open her dress exposing her breasts.
Randall grabs Claire by the hair and takes her to his desk which he clears and pushes her down over. He then reaches down and lifts her skirts exposing her. Randall finds her sgian-dubh in her boot and puts it up to her nipple.
Jamie bursts through the window with a pistol and says, “I’ll thank you to take your hands off my wife.” Randall is stunned and laughs while Claire looks up at Jamie.
