At Ticonderoga, Jamie and Claire prepare for an imminent British assault. Roger compiles information about time travel while Brianna earns the respect of her coworkers.
Singapore opens with Brianna searching for Jem and Mandy who she can hear playing. She finds them in the graveyard of Lallybroch. Jem has not found Jamie’s gravestone but leaves stones there for Jamie at Jamie’s request.Brianna is clearly disturbed to even think about finding her parents graves and isn’t even willing to go into the graveyard.
The very thought of her parents’ deaths has upset Brianna and she goes for the box of letters. The letter’s date is June 18, 1777. Brianna seems to feel bad about wanting to read another letter so soon but Roger comforts her saying, “We’ve waited long enough.” I totally agree. I don’t understand how they haven’t read them all yet.
The letter puts Jamie and Claire at Fort Ticonderoga. Jamie is in command of a small group of militiamen called “Fraser’s Irregulars,” which Claire says he loves. She is having to deal with a Lt. Stactoe who she says thinks he is a surgeon but isn’t and believes she can’t be because she’s a woman.
Brianna remembers going to the fort with Frank and Roger wants to look up the history of the fort but Brianna doesn’t think they should. This confuses me. At this point they think they’ve changed history so shouldn’t they be willing to look back to make sure nothing bad happens that they can change? I mean we know they didn’t change history but they don’t know that yet.
1777
Jamie and other commanding officers are meeting with Brigadier General Fermoy. He’s the French officer in charge of the fort. Jamie comes forward to bring the General’s attention to their vulnerability because of the nearby Sugar Loaf Hill. Fermoy doesn’t believe the steep terrain is a threat because no one could get up there unless they are goats.
Jamie informs, “[w]here a goat can go, a man can go, sir. And where a man can go, he can drag a gun” (he means cannon). Fermoy is so arrogant he refuses to believe Jamie’s steadfast belief that it is possible and probable.
On the Road
William, Deny, and Rachel are on the road discussing the Quakers’ aversion to violence and their unwillingness to even protect themselves (I don’t get it either William). They come across Antioch Johnson chopping wood along the road and realize they’ve taken the wrong road towards Albany. It would take too long to turn back to the turn and it is getting late so Johnson offers them shelter at his home.
There they are offered the stew Mrs. Johnson is making while Mr. Johnson tells them the army has taken everything they had which is why the stew is made of rats. William wonders which army but Johnson says both. Rachel doesn’t eat but goes outside and William follows.
He asks after her wellness. She couldn’t stand the smell of the stew. They plan to leave at dawn without breakfast.
1980s
Brianna is studying what I can only assume is the dam plans. He assures her he has everything under control but asks that she brings her hard hat home.He clearly has some kinky ideas in mind. Brianna agrees and Roger notices she’s not wearing knickers. She got so used to not wearing them she has kind of stopped though admittedly skirt and pants are a different feel. Roger and Bree are making out a bit but are interrupted by a giggling Mandy.
Next, we see Brianna at Loch Errochty Dam. She is taken up to meet her crew who are not enamored with the idea of a woman as their boss. Rob Cameron stands out as if he’s good with everything. He takes Bree’s keys under the guise of showing her the ropes. Another crewman gives her his torch (flashlight). They lock her into the tunnel. Brianna may have a brief moment of panic but she’s capable and pulls out matches, lighting one so she can find the switch for the tunnel lights. She then makes her way through them.
After a fork, in which she stops to remember the way, Brianna starts to hear a loud buzzing which is instantly recognizable as the same sound the stones make.As she moves closer, we see a shimmering blue (I’m not sure if that is for us or if she sees it). Brianna doesn’t want to turn back so she rushes through it and then runs towards an exit where she comes out to a gorgeous view of the Loch.
1777
At Ft. Ticonderoga, Ian goes before General St. Clair’s aid who orders him to go to Shadow Lake to deliver a letter to Thayandenegea (or Joseph Brant). Ian isn’t keen to go as this is the Mohawk village he once called home (so Roger was captive there) and things are awkward between him and Emily. The aid doesn’t really care about any of that and sends him anyway.
Ian goes to Claire and asks whether there is something wrong with him because Isobel (his daughter with Emily) died. Claire reassures him it is unlikely there is something wrong and tells him many women miscarry for any number of reasons. Ian is happy to hear there isn’t something wrong with him.
I liked this conversation with Claire. It happens in the book, the only thing is that they make it seem Ian and Emily lost one child when in the books she was pregnant several times and all of the babies died. Claire ends up telling Ian it is possible Emily and he just couldn’t have children together.
Back at the Johnson’s cabin, William wakes up in the middle of the night with stomach pains. It seems he’s got food poisoning from dinner (if you could call that food). Mr. Johnson comes at William with a large knife while Mrs. Johnson goes after Deny and Rachel awakes just in time to warn Deny who is trying to fend off the attack. Rachel calls for William who uses a fire poker to kill Mr. Johnson before punching Mrs. Johnson in the face to stop the attack.
William ends up outside dwelling on killing a man for the first time. Rachel thanks him for saving them. She conveys that Mrs. Johnson has confessed that this isn’t the first time they’ve attacked and previously killed travelers. They are planning to take Mrs. Johnson to some authorities.
What has always bothered me about this scene is that Rachel and Deny, being Quakers, are not willing to defend themselves but happy to call out to William to do it. It is such hypocrisy. I can respect someone who is a pacifist at heart, but I have trouble with anyone not willing to defend themselves or their loved ones in the heat of that moment. To each their own.
Also, in the book the Johnsons are just robbing people. They are cannibals.
At Ft. Ticonderoga, Jamie vents to Claire about Fermoy who won’t listen. He knows that Brigadier General Simon Fraser (his second cousin, and not a Simon Fraser Claire has met) will use Sugar Loaf Hill against them. Fermoy won’t hear it. He believes the attack will come by land.
Claire tells Jamie about the Battle of Singapore during World War II. Apparently, the allies didn’t believe the Japanese would come through the jungle because it was too wild and dangerous. They believed they’d come by the water. Apparently, seeing is believing because the Japanese did, in fact, cut their way through the jungle. Jamie strikes on an idea when Claire says, “seeing is believing.”
On the road, the Hunters and William come to the fork in the road again and he sends them toward Ticonderoga while he goes further North. He offers a token of safety. If British troops or Hessians stop them, tell them you know his friend: Harold Grey, Duke of Pardloe. He is a relative (William’s uncle). William sends them off with some money.
Deny wonders if Rachel would like to go somewhere safe but she isn’t willing to leave him.
Ian arrives in the Mohawk village and finds Works With Her Hands (Emily). They engage in polite conversation where she tells Ian she has a son and a daughter. Ian asks to meet her son and it is clear the boy isn’t a full Mohawk. Clearly he is Ian’s biological child. The boy tells Ian that his grandmother says he is of Ian’s spirit but not to tell his father. It isn’t like Kaheroton doesn’t realize this but I assume the boy saying it would either hurt him or anger him.
Emily asks that he give her son a name from his people. Ian calls him Ian James.
1980s
Roger is outside working on some kind of buggy or vehicle, likely for the children, when he sees Jem get dropped off from school. Jem looks upset and goes into the dovecote nearby. Roger follows him and finds Jem inside. Roger tells him to come out and they sit outside by the driveway. Jem admits he got in trouble at school for speaking in Gaelic. His teacher pulled him by his ear. He proceeded to curse at her and she called the headmaster who smacked his hands with a belt. Before going inside Roger notices trash on the ground.
I mean I have no issue with kids getting into trouble for things but speaking Gaelic? That teacher needs her hands whacked with a belt.
1777
Claire overhears an argument between Stactoe and the new doctor. Claire goes to inspect what they are arguing about and first agrees with Stactoe until Deny points out further complications to Walter Woodcock’s amputation of his gangrenous foot. Deny asks if Claire would like to help him with the surgery. He clearly sees her capability.
Across camp, Jamie has brought Fermoy to the wall so Jamie can demonstrate that men can get a cannon on Sugar Loaf Hill; going so far as to have them fire the cannon which really makes Fermoy angry.
Ian and Rachel meet up again and sparks are flying everywhere though words are just general small talk.
1980s
Brianna is telling the kids about her first day and her experience in the tunnel. She makes it sound like a grand adventure for them but when Roger toasts to her first day it is obvious something is wrong. Roger and Bree speak alone and she confides in Roger that the men only locked her inside the tunnel because she’s a woman. She’s really angry.
Roger shows Brianna a hidden drawer in the laird’s desk where he’s hidden a present (a pen?) for her. Just then Mandy screams. She’s seen the Nuckelavee outside the window. Roger makes a terrible attempt to check for intruders and it is obvious someone is lurking around.
Brianna goes to the pub to find Rob Cameron and the others. She joins them and listens to them joke about just hazing her. She wants to chalk it up to that but warns Rob, “If you ever do anything like that again, I will have the lot of you fired.” Rob acts as though everything is good but to me he seems like he’s seething.
1777
There are British troops on Sugar Loaf Hill (imagine that). Fermoy acts as if it is a totally unforeseen situation and Jamie doesn’t make waves just starts the evacuation of the fort.
Claire goes to Walter Woodcock and informs him of the evacuation but because of his amputation he can’t be moved right away. She assures him the British should show him mercy.
Every able bodied person in the fort boards boats and sets out across the water.
1980s
Brianna goes to the Lallybroch graveyard to find the cairn Jemmy has been adding stones to. She tells Jamie about her day and her new job.
Fin.
