Jamie and Roger implement their plan to eliminate the threat looming over them, but it goes awry. Brianna is forced to confront her greatest fear and fight for her and her son’s lives.
Wilmington
Forbes and Bonnet are meeting in a brothel; plotting to claim Jemmy as Bonnet’s son. Forbes is recommending Bonnet lay low in his business dealings. Bonnet doesn’t think his business isn’t any business of theirs. He’s made this powerful people what they are with his services and made friends in high places for his own advantage. While Forbes wants to discuss business, Bonnet clearly wants companionship.
Forbes puts himself in the way of Bonnet who doesn’t look pleased with him. Forbes wants to know about his compensation and Bonnet tells him he’ll get his cut when the Innes’s have their unfortunate accident after he has his son.
The Frasers and the MacKenzies are in Wilmington preparing to meet Bonnet under the guise of Alexander Malcolm. Young Ian is dress as more of a gentleman and Claire intends to cover his facial marking with clay. Brianna doesn’t feel good about their plan but Roger reminds her the goal is getting rid of Bonnet. Jamie wants Brianna and Claire to go home if they (Jamie, Roger, and Ian) don’t return in two days but Claire says they’ll come find them.
Claire and Brianna go to a glass blower for one part of a new syringe. He’s curious about what they are making and when explained his is interested. They head for the smithy while discussing the need for the syringe as Jamie is prone to getting hurt. Clearly someone is watching them from a distance.
Wylies Landing
Jamie, Roger, and Ian set their trap in motion and get a lay of the land. Jamie is sure Bonnet won’t come alone and Roger remembers they will work for Bonnet out of fear but if they don’t threaten them they shouldn’t care about Bonnet’s fate.
The Beach
Claire and Bree are looking for shells and sponges.
Wylies Landing
Meanwhile, Ian waits on the dock for Bonnet. Roger tells Jamie he wants to be the one to kill Bonnet. He might not be a great swordsman or even a good shot but Bree is his wife and he wants Bonnet. Jamie coaches Roger not to hesitate or give him any opportunity. Kill him fast, essentially. Jamie will avenge him should he fall and Roger shows Jamie his Highlander side when he vows to avenge Jamie should he fall. Jamie seems impressed.
The Beach
Claire and Bree spies whales and mentions she loves Moby Dick. Claire and Bree race across the sand like they once did in Cape Cod and then Bree gets her feet wet while Claire looks for more shells.
Wylies Landing
Bonnet’s men approach by boat minus Bonnet. Ian asks where if the man is Bonnet (though he knows better) but Duff says Bonnet has business elsewhere. When Duff doesn’t find the whisky he threatens Ian who pretends to fear him saying it is in the shed.
When Duff and the other’s enter, Jamie, Roger and Ian rush them and overtake them. Duff is still conscious and they ask him where Bonnet is. Jamie puts a knife under his throat and doesn’t seem at all inclined not to slit Duff’s throat.
The Beach
Claire is collecting shells when she is startled by Bonnet. She pulls her knife. Bonnet says he saw Bree and Claire in Wilmington. He asks after Jemmy calling him his son but Claire denies Jemmy is his. Bonnet tells her Bree told him the boy was his son in Cross Creek.
Bree comes around the sand dune and Claire yells for her to run. She refuses to leave Claire and pulls the pistol out of Claire’s basket but she doesn’t have a clear shot. Bonnet threatens to cut Claire’s throat and says he’ll let Claire go because he wants his son and Bree. Claire makes a move and Bree fires but nothing happens. Bonnet knocks Claire out as Bree rushes to her aide but Bonnet overpowers her as well.
Claire wakes a time later, realizing Bree is missing when she finds some her cloths on the beach.
Ocracoke
Bree wakes on a coach with Bonnet poring tea. Bree asks after Claire and he confesses he left her on the beach and that he has no quarrel with them. Bree tells him they have a quarrel wit him and he asks if it is because he couldn’t remember her name in the jail. Bonnet has a gift and it appears to be toys for Jem.
Brianna tells Bonnet that her husband Roger is Jemmy’s father but he believes it is what she had to tell Roger. Bree looks inside the chest of toys and is horrified. He also has something for her.
On the Road
Wylies Landing and meets the men on the road. She tells them Bonnet took Brianna.
Ocracoke
Bree is wearing the dress Bonnet has given her as she’s brought into dinner. Bonnet wants her to teach him how to be a gentleman so they can be in society together. At first, she seems confused but Bonnet thinks fate has brought them together to be parents to Jem. She’s stunned to know he knows Jem’s name. Brianna starts by telling him to move his elbows off the table and don’t hunch over you food.
After dinner, the two retire to her rooms. She tries to tell him it is improper to be alone like that but he threatens to have his men join them. He asks what they could do to pass the time and she suggests reading which doesn’t go over well at first until she offers to read to him. He asks if Jem likes it.
Brianna talks about what drives a character in a book. Bonnet asks what drives him and she thinks it is money. It can’t be love because he doesn’t love her and you don’t hurt those you love. Can’t be revenge because she’s done nothing to him.
Bonnet seems to get defensive saying she doesn’t know his story. He wonders if Jemmy would feel for him if he knew his story and she tries to tell him you cannot make someone love you. What about ‘learn to love.’ He wants her to learn to love him for their son. She seems horrified but turns to pick a book.
Bonnet approaches her; when she told him about Jem in the jail; he felt something. She offers to read to him like she does to Jeremiah. Bree tells him she thinks he will love the book saying it is Moby Dick but it is really The Art of Husbandry. She proceeds to tell him the story of Moby Dick.
He seems a little skeptical but Bree assures him it is Jem’s favorite and he is pleased to know Jem likes tales of the sea. She continues with the story. Bonnet seems riveted.
Later, Bonnet just wants to know the end but Bree does not think he wants her to tell him the end yet. He thinks she must be tired and just wants to see Ahab slaughter the whale. When she tells him what really happens he is upset that the monster wins and Ahab drowned. Bree says it depends one who you see as the monster, the man hell-bent on revenge or the whale that is hunted.
Bonnet takes this seriously. The sea is a treacherous place always looking to consume you. He tells Bree he has a recurring nightmare of the sea calling to him and drowning with no one to come and help him. He pretends to reassure him.
He wonders if Jeremiah gets scared and he wonders what she does to comfort him. He never had a family so he doesn’t know what to do to comfort a child. Bree goes to Jem and takes him in his arms and holds him until he feels safe. Bonnet wants to be shown but Bree says a lady would say goodnight and go to bed alone. Bonnet leaves her.
The next morning, Bree wakes to the sounds of breakfast being served by what appears to be a whore. Bonnet is playing the gentleman and Bree wants to know if they would live here. He will get a place in town if he likes.
She wants to go get Jem and Bonnet wants to join her. She tries to discourage him by saying she should tell Jem on her own and they don’t know how her father and Roger will reaction. She assures him she will return to him that fate will bring her back. Bonnet wonders if they shouldn’t spend more time together getting to know one another better.
She says she misses Jemmy and he wants to meet Jem. As soon as she leaves she can return. He agrees for a kiss. She kisses him but Bonnet isn’t convinced and gets angry. His feelings got in the way and he believed her. The last time that happened some men got him drunk and left him to die in the foundation of a cellar he helped them dig.
The whore comes in and Bonnet tells her he will show her what she’s missing and takes the woman right there on the couch. Brianna retreats to the next room in horror. She offers to be with Brianna but Bonnet refuses and goes off to get the woman’s pay.
Bree springs into action and asks her questions. She is on Ocracoke. The woman knows Bonnet but has never been with him when there was another woman present. Bree tells her she’s been kidnapped and tries to convince her to help her and get a message to her parents. She tries to give the woman her ring in payment. She tells them her family is rich but she won’t help. She warns Bonnet will kill anyone who crosses him. Bree tries to beg but Bonnet returns and the woman leaves.
Wilmington
Roger has Wylie thrown up against a building and they are asking about Bonnet and if he betrayed them. He promises he has not but doesn’t know where Bonnet would be. Jamie gives Roger a knife and Roger holds it to Wylie’s throat who promptly confesses there is a brothel Bonnet frequents.
Jamie wants Ian and Roger to stay in the tavern in case Bonnet or his men comes around while he and Claire go to the brothel.
River Run
Forbes arrives while inside Duncan is trying to help but is being annoying. Forbes is show in and Jocasta informs him she wants to change her will again and leave money to the rest of her family which seem to be growing considerably (Fergus and Marsali just had another) and Ian has returned. Forbes seems a little annoyed.
Wilmington
Claire and Jamie enter the brothel and explain they are looking for Stephen Bonnet. None of the woman including the madam seem happy to hear that. The woman from Ocracoke is there.
River Run
Jocasta stars listing off all the money she wants to give to Fergus and Marsali, their children, Ian, Bree and Roger. Forbes gets upset and Jocasta says she had hoped Bree would have picked him but it is water under the bridge. She also wants to give money to Lizzie which incenses Forbes. He refuses to help her and says she can’t give away his money. He tries to smother her with the lavender pillow Duncan gave her.
As she struggles she knocks over the bell she uses to call Ulysses. He comes in and finds Forbes trying to kill Jocasta. He comes up behind Forbes and grabs him around the neck and pulls him up off his feet before snapping his neck.
Ulysses goes to Jocasta’s side and calls her by her name and then holds her hand. Something is clearly going on there.
Wilmington
The woman says she’s never heard of Bonnet and when she walks away Claire notices something is wrong and diagnoses the woman. She tells the woman one of her legs is shorter and then uses cards to figure out how much height she needs a cobbler to add to her shoe. She says she can’t afford it and Claire “makes a contribution” to it. The woman asks why and Claire says when someone needs help you help. She tells her about Bree and the woman worries Bonnet will slit her throat. Claire assure her he won’t find out.
Ocracoke
Bree is brought before Captain Howard who is there to purchase her. He gropes at her and tries to open her mouth to see her teeth. Bonnet assists and she bites Howard who punches her in the stomach. Howard wants to beat her but Bonnet reminds him he doesn’t own her yet. He offers six pounds for her and Bonnet intends to sell her.
Bree begs Bonnet but he doesn’t cave.
They are headed to Howard’s launch when shots are fired. Bree runs for her family and Bonnet tries to stop her but gives him. Howard and his men leave while Roger goes after Bonnet and then beats him into submission.
Tied up, Bree says she wants Bonnet to go before the law. The other fear he’s friends in high places will save him but Roger reminds them Tryon still owns them. Jamie is sure Tryon will see Bonnet condemned.
Wilmington
Bonnet’s sentence of death by drowning is read off and we see Bonnet chained to a post in the bay. He will be there until the tide comes in and drowns him. On lookers watch for a time but slowly go off until known are there to see Bonnet.
Bonnet appears to despair he is alone and then suddenly he spots someone. A shot is fired into his head killing him.
On shore, Bree hands the rifle to Roger who asks if it was mercy or just to make sure he was dead. Bree doesn’t answer and walks away. Roger follows.
