

Episode 5
Season 1 Episode 5 | 52m 50sVideo has Closed Captions
Learn what desperate measures Francis takes to recoup his losses.
Poldark and Demelza start a family. Demelza plays matchmaker. The miners riot. And Francis takes desperate measures to recoup his losses.
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Episode 5
Season 1 Episode 5 | 52m 50sVideo has Closed Captions
Poldark and Demelza start a family. Demelza plays matchmaker. The miners riot. And Francis takes desperate measures to recoup his losses.
Problems with Closed Captions? Closed Captioning Feedback
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Poldark: From First Scene to Last Scene
Five seasons of epic adventures, grand romances, heartbreaks and more, and now, our favorite Cornwall characters’ stories have come to an end. Relive their journeys from first to last appearance with our slideshow to transport you back to each characters’ very first scene and lines – and their last.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipPreviously on Poldark... Ross, with such a wife, you cannot hope to have entry into any respectable gathering.
CHARLES: Look after our family for me.
Of course.
CHARLES: And our good name.
ELIZABETH: There are rumors that Francis has another woman.
Has he?
GEORGE: Our friend Choake sold me his shares in Wheal Leisure.
DEMELZA: I hope you have a little love to spare.
ROSS: For what?
Our child.
Poldark, tonight on Masterpiece.
♪ ♪ (hammering) (sighs) (loud hammering) (horse neighing) Captain Poldark.
Dr. Enys!
You survived the journey?
Missed the riots in London, but caught them in Exeter!
We're uncivilized here, let me warn you.
I've seen worse.
You've saved worse!
Come meet my friends.
Paul, Zacky, Mark, this is Dwight Enys.
I have him to thank for patching me up!
I trust my skill's improved since then.
Dwight is here to make a study of mine diseases.
There's no shortage of subjects.
Do you suffer yourself?
Heart and lungs of an ox.
Then I hope we'll have no call to meet except socially.
You must come meet my wife.
(birds chirping) ROSS: Demelza, my friend, Dr. Dwight Enys.
Ma'am.
'Twas you that mended his face?
Your fame precedes you, sir.
My infamy, you mean.
Well, I intend to keep my head down here.
I've no wish to become notorious.
(bell ringing) MAN: Roll up!
A picture of conjugal bliss.
Make the most of it while you still can.
You look well.
Oh!
A month to go and I'm already fatter than Prudie.
CHOAKE: If in doubt, purge.
That's our motto.
Bleed, boil, blister, sweat.
Healing is a science, ma'am.
Few comprehend its mysteries.
Or its fees.
I merely meant not everyone can afford expensive treatments.
And sometimes, does it not do better to work with nature's remedies?
How's Grambler?
Mortgaged to the hilt, running out of ore, the price of copper tumbling.
Stop playing with him, Mark, come on!
KEREN: I am undone.
There be no living, none, if Bertram be away.
'Twere all one that I should love a bright particular star and think to wed it.
He is so above me.
In his bright radiance and collateral light must I be comforted, not in his sphere... My love?
It's just an ache.
I'll maybe stretch my legs awhile.
Back so soon?
(groaning in pain) Oh, I hate to see your pain, my dear.
I hate to see yours.
Get the linen.
I could prescribe a remedy.
One that lives near Truro and captains a ship.
I never think of him, Demelza.
I pray you do likewise.
I must have something to divert me.
Ah, Judas!
All yet seems well; and if it ends so meet, the bitter past, and more welcome is the sweet.
(applause) Should we expect an announcement soon?
You may soon find you've an announcement of your own.
(horse neighing) (groaning) (seagull crying) How did we make something so perfect?
I am afeared, Ross, that I love her too much.
It will hurt so much more if things go amiss.
I promise you, I will make the world a better place for her.
I will be a better man, for her sake.
And for me?
I'm already a better man because of you.
(baby cooing) Ross and Demelza have a daughter.
I wish them well.
(knocking) 'Tis Mistress Poldark from Trenwith.
Please, don't get up.
Uh... Ross isn't here, and Julia's sleeping.
'Tis you I came to see.
I?
Uh... some refreshment?
I beg you, do not trouble yourself.
That's very pretty.
Oh, it's just a fancy I had, to make her a keepsake.
I know it is not made of gold or silver, or even copper.
It's made of something more precious.
A mother's love for her child surpasses all other loves, does it not?
I'm not sure Ross would care to hear that.
Nor Francis.
Men do not understand such things.
REVEREND: Julia Grace Poldark, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
Amen.
ALL: Amen.
Congratulations, Ross.
This is Ross's doing.
I said I wanted two christenings, one for his sort and one for mine.
And where do I fit in?
You fit in everywhere, you're like Ross.
Whereas I...
I can scarce breathe.
What's there to fear?
That my stays are so tight they'll burst.
RUTH: I'm surprised Captain Poldark allows such riffraff in his house.
But perhaps he's been obliged to lower his standards of late.
Getting much sleep, Ross?
I've no complaints.
A child changes everything.
So does owning a mine.
Neither can be ignored.
Much as one tries.
FRANCIS: My wife is perfection, is she not?
God knows what I've done to deserve her.
The curse of the Poldarks.
Once given, our hearts are not easily withdrawn.
They're very different.
Yes.
Yet each has something the other lacks.
Perhaps you'd like them both?
Perhaps I would.
(inaudible) DWIGHT: I envy you.
My charmed life?
Is it not charmed?
Has it not comfort and purpose and certainty?
This is Cornwall, Dwight.
Nothing is certain.
As we feared.
Choake sold his shares in Leisure.
To whom?
Oh, damn.
Your health and prosperity, Ross!
And yours, George, particularly in the light of your recent acquisition.
Ah, my shares in Wheal Leisure?
You must take that as a compliment.
Oh, I do.
Clearly you know a fine investment when you see it.
What of the other shareholders?
Two or three more wish to sell.
We must buy them out.
How?
No idea.
But I'll starve before I see another piece of Leisure in his hands.
Has Ruth Treneglos finished dissecting me?
Don't mind her, dear.
She cannot spoil a splendid day.
Oh, Verity!
(baby cooing) I wish you could have this, too.
Don't waste another moment on such thoughts.
PRUDIE: Who be this, then, just as we run out o' likky pie?
JUD: 'Tis like a blathering funeral procession.
It can't be... Mr. Carne!
How do you do, sir?
Mrs. Carne.
Glad you were able to join us, ma'am.
This way.
Step no further, Nelly.
This be a place of filth and abomination.
Shame on you, daughter, to mix with such dandical folk when your own flesh and blood should take precedence.
And so they shall, sir.
Allow me to introduce you to my friends and family, beginning with your granddaughter.
This way, Mr. Carne.
My cousin Francis, my friends John and Ruth Treneglos, Dr. Dwight Enys.
Your servant, sir.
No servant o' mine!
And no friend neither.
Cover yourself, missy!
Your place is to be decent and modest, not laying out wares for men to slaver over.
RUTH: Damn your insolence!
John, did you hear what he said?
You impudent swine!
Make apology or I'll have the coat off your back!
Have a care, John.
John, you are both my guests and I couldn't permit you to strike my father-in-law.
Nay, let him come!
I've been in the ring, I can hold me own!
Hold your tongue, sir!
If we want your opinion, we'll ask.
John, allow me, as host, to apologize for any offense caused.
Well, if Ruth is satisfied.
Naturally, if Ross wishes to protect his new relative... ...allowances should be made for those who don't know any better.
ROSS: I thought the players had moved on.
They had.
She did tell me she'd return.
I never thought she would.
You must catch her while you can.
I mean to.
Keren!
Like a lamb to the slaughter.
They've gone.
And good riddance!
Blasted hypocrites!
Why did they come?
Because I invited them.
They meant to shame and disgrace me.
Well, they failed.
In a week, it will all be forgot.
Not by me.
I did miss you.
How much?
I scarce did eat.
They all say that.
I can't stay here long, and tomorrow I shall be gone.
And when return?
Happen I shan't.
Not ever?
What's to keep me here?
Find her a home within a week?
How?
Why?
It's the condition of her agreeing to marry him.
Well, you could help them.
There's a cottage at Mellin.
It's in no fit state to live in.
Does she love him?
She says so.
Does he love her?
Besotted.
Then they should marry.
Because?
Love should conquer all.
Even if it requires a little help.
On the contrary!
Some obstacles cannot be overcome, and should not, for the peace of all concerned.
He would have enjoyed today.
FRANCIS: He'd have reveled in it.
The great patriarch and leader of men.
Is that to be disdained?
It's to be lived up to.
And can you not?
It was a question, not a judgment.
(seagulls crying, waves roaring) ELIZABETH: Shall Papa read to you now?
Papa... has business to attend to in town.
Will you be gone long?
As long as it takes to raise capital to buy out our nervous shareholders.
Are you ready?
Well, pick me liver!
What's the blatherin' rush?
Sneakin' and slidin' and slitherin' about.
'Tisn't right, 'tisn't fit, 'tisn't proper.
We must be done and back by 5:00 or Julia will suffer.
Let's get gone.
Thank you, sir!
DWIGHT: What brings you to town?
ROSS: Insane optimism?
The fond hope that my banker can drum up sufficient capital to buy out our discontented shareholders.
Before selling to the Warleggans.
I wish you well.
Let us change the subject.
By all means.
Did you hear of the riots in Launceston?
Are you surprised?
People can only starve for so long while the rich get fat.
In France, they make their feelings known with hatchets and pikes.
They may do so here, soon.
Copper prices have fallen again.
God knows when Grambler last paid full wages.
The industry's on its knees.
What's to be done?
Sit tight and wait for the price to rise.
Thank you.
We're all committed to short-term loan repayments.
If we don't sell cheap, we don't sell at all.
Of course, if the smelting companies were honestly run... Are they not?
It's a ring.
They don't bid against each other so the price they pay us is rock-bottom.
A pity the mines are not in similar unity.
We could band together and withhold supplies till a decent price was paid.
No remedy, then?
Unless the mines were to form a company of their own, bid independently, purchase ore, extract the copper, build a smelting works.
That would keep the shareholders happy.
I couldn't help but overhear.
You intend to form a smelting company?
I intend nothing, sir.
I merely say that were the mines to unite and create a company, one that would bid, buy, refine and sell their own products, they might keep the profit for themselves instead of handing it to the Warleggans.
May I be of service to you, ma'am?
My name is Poldark.
Did Verity send you?
No.
She's no idea I've come.
No one does.
It was made clear long ago that Verity was not for me.
I've since moved on, set my sights elsewhere.
You're married?
To my ship.
To my profession.
And all the better for it.
But...
I never think of her now!
I'm sorry you've had a wasted journey.
If you wish to raise money to buy out your shareholders, you have only one option: raise a mortgage on Nampara.
And risk the very roof over my head.
And with a wife and young child to support.
You'd advise against.
Most emphatically.
(rooster crows) (door closes) A good day?
A frustrating day.
At least Julia's content.
She is.
But you seem very confined here.
Can you bear it?
I find it suits me well enough.
Mark Daniel's just sent for you, Captain.
It seems to be catching.
What?
Recklessness.
She's a fortunate girl.
A plaguy demandin' one!
What kind of woman to make such conditions?
Happen she never thought he'd do it.
Well, she don't know Mark, then.
ROSS: Looks like you're making progress.
No sleep for four nights!
And you're set on this girl, Mark?
You barely know her.
Maybe so, Ross, but truly she is my heart's desire.
I hope she deserves you.
(pipes and drums playing) DEMELZA: They don't like her.
They like Mark.
She's an outsider.
So am I.
They like me.
They make allowances for you.
Is that it?
Yes.
Oh.
MARK: We'll make it fit you, Keren.
It will soon be a palace, you'll see.
♪ ♪ I've secured lodgings for you.
That's tremendous-- where?
Mingoose Cottage.
It's not grand, but I hope it'll serve.
It will serve me, to know who my neighbor is.
Have you been introduced to the bride?
If he'd dance with her, she might introduce herself.
Oh, at your service, ma'am.
I've been thinking, Ross.
Keren, she do have finer tastes than I can easy stretch to.
Yes?
Well, so could you maybe find me extra work in the mine?
I'd like to say yes, Mark.
But it depends on how we fare in tomorrow's auction.
ROSS: So there you have it.
And I have no means to buy out our shareholders without risking all we have.
This house, our land... Our very livelihood.
You must be regretting your marriage to such a destitute rogue.
Must I?
After what you brought me to?
Am I now such a great lady as to forget where I'd be if we'd never met?
(laughs softly) What?
Women.
None are created equal.
Some are never satisfied.
Some could never be brought so low.
And others thumb their nose at adversity and roll up their sleeves.
Perhaps you wish you'd married a rich lady?
I'm quite aware of my good fortune, I assure you.
Shall we ask Papa how much copper we sent?
"We"?
Our mine.
Grambler.
To the auction.
One parcel or two?
Mama's becoming quite the expert.
We must hope for a good price.
Though we know we shan't get it.
And unless the price goes sky-high, Papa will have to start pawning the family jewels.
Francis... Perhaps someone will make a bid for Mama.
MAN: Gentlemen, gentlemen.
The auction is now open.
I have first to dispose of a dole of ore from Grambler.
45 tons.
Disastrous.
A scandal.
Disgrace!
Every single parcel gone for half its true value.
We'll be paying them to take it off us next.
You realize you've been uncommonly dull since you became a father?
My apologies.
No matter, I've a remedy.
Seeing what little entertainment your life affords, I have procured you an invitation.
To what?
The ultimate house party.
And if that doesn't put a smile on your face... BLEWITT: Gentlemen.
I take it you feel no satisfaction at the business done today?
Who the devil could?
Then may I trouble you to step this way a moment?
We'd like your word that nothing which passes between us goes any further.
Jinny, put the tetty pie to cool.
I'll walk out to meet Ross.
FRANCIS: A smelting company?
Run by the mines themselves?
Well, it all rings very agreeable, but you'd be biting off no end of trouble.
We know that, sir.
The smelting companies will want no competition.
And the Warleggans will be behind them.
But all of us here are willing to stand together, and some of us could lay our hands on a measure of cash.
But it requires secrecy.
So before we proceed, who wishes to join us?
What do you say, Ross?
Too risky a venture?
It was your cousin who first suggested it.
Did he?
We can't go on as we are.
And I would rather fail fighting than throw up my hands and wait for the end.
And Mr. Francis Poldark?
My finances are, at present, somewhat complicated.
So I cannot, at this time, join you.
But I wish you well.
Gentlemen, I do indeed.
And who is to be your leader?
Is it you, Tonkin?
Oh, no, sir, I'm not at all the right man.
But we're all agreed on who is.
A house party!
At George Warleggan's.
Think of that, my lamb.
Your mother's a lady, your father's a gent.
His name goes back hundreds of years, and a good name it is.
Mistress Poldark!
Forgive me.
I don't mean to alarm you, but I must speak.
I was unmannerly.
I am a man of strong temper, and to control it has been the work of a lifetime, but God forbid that I shall quarrel with those who wish me well.
Captain Blamey, I cannot stay.
Hear me out, I beg you.
Since your visit, I have been in turmoil.
I thought that I had put her behind me, but...
...I had not.
What do you want of me?
To ask you... Am I to hope?
With her father deceased, do I have a chance?
May I see her?
How?
When?
I don't know.
My husband, he mustn't see you here.
Is he against me, too?
He wasn't before.
He's against me stirring up what should be left alone.
He'll be on his way home soon.
I must go.
Will you tell Verity?
No.
I think... not yet.
I'll send word.
Bless you, ma'am.
I will not fail you.
Nor her.
You seem excitable.
Is something amiss?
Nothing, no.
Only a letter came, inviting us to George Warleggan's party.
I'm that glad!
It'll make up for the christening.
Now I'll show that I can wear fine clothes and behave all genteel, along with the best of them.
That you will not.
Why?
It's not that kind of party.
Oh.
Oh, don't look so sorry for yourself.
It'll be nothing but gaming and toping and dawn-to-dusk business talk.
Will you go, then?
If only to please Francis and throw George off the scent of my latest ventures.
But at least you can be spared.
♪ ♪ Going somewhere?
Mm.
To town.
To what purpose?
Urgent business.
I need a new cloak and Verity must help me choose.
What?
The choosing of cloaks.
May that always be the worst of your worries.
Now, don't delay me.
I have a party to attend.
Jud, bring the horses.
You spoil me.
Do you like it?
I like to be appreciated.
Who doesn't?
Does your wife not appreciate you?
My wife... tries to make me a better man.
Like your father?
I will never be that man.
Could you take me to Miss Verity?
This way, ma'am.
Are you joining this urgent trip to the dressmakers?
Because shopping and dressing up are the only things of matter to us women?
Not at all.
They are, of course, but I hesitate to buy ribbons when our copper can scarce be given away.
Besides, Francis has more urgent calls on his purse.
Such as?
Gaming, entertaining.
Oh, himself, not his wife.
Nor his workers.
They are not remotely entertained, though I dare say she is, lavishly.
Elizabeth, I wish...
There was something you could do?
Oh, I wish it, too, Ross.
But we are beyond wishing, are we not?
Next time, I hope to join you.
♪ ♪ Were you not afraid?
The look in their eyes.
I've seen the like before, in Luggan once, when we were out of corn.
Empty bellies make for such looks.
And his grandfather was a blacksmith?
How is it possible?
To leap from poverty to wealth in two generations?
And maintain it in the midst of a slump, while men like you and Francis face ruin.
We have different ways of doing business.
Who is that?
Ah, the infamous Matthew Sanson.
Mill owner and corn merchant.
ROSS: Does his infamy extend beyond bankrupting Francis?
It extends almost everywhere, and he has George's endorsement, which makes him... A force to be reckoned with.
A man of means, though sadly not of generosity.
Is that collar not a gift of his?
No, indeed.
The giver was a man of taste.
Could you manage without me while I visit the chandler?
On no account.
You must help me choose.
What do you think of this one?
Or this one, perhaps?
Miss Verity?
A physician, sir?
Pray, what do you prescribe for boredom?
It's not a condition I'm familiar with, sir.
Doubtless, you will have opportunities to study it.
I suspect not, sir.
The patients I tend rarely suffer from that affliction.
Your health.
A pity he hasn't your skill at cards.
Or in other ways.
He'll shortly be ruined.
ROSS: And you will have done with him.
As his wife did long ago.
For so long, I never dared to hope, but such a chance as this... Captain Blamey, may I introduce you to my cousin, Mistress Demelza Poldark, Ross's wife.
I'm honored, ma'am.
And I, sir.
May I beg the pleasure of your company for a cordial or a coffee?
Oh, that would be... No!
Thank you, sir, we cannot.
No good can come of it.
I bid you good day.
What are the stakes?
You wouldn't wish to know.
On the contrary.
(sighs) You'll find out soon enough.
(whispering) Pray excuse me, gentlemen.
A pleasure, as always.
Get off!
Verity, would it have been so very bad to hear him out?
He can have nothing to say that I wish to hear.
Nothing?
(men shouting) Oh, Verity!
Miners!
Will you believe me if I say it gives me no pleasure to see Francis beggar himself?
Business is business.
It's not my business to bankrupt a friend.
So you leave it to a third party and your conscience is clear.
I thank you for your hospitality.
(shouting continues) Miss Verity, I beg you, if only you would hear me out.
I cannot!
I cannot!
These people should be flogged!
MAN: Be careful, Mr. Sanson, sir!
Pay for it, damn you!
All these years, I've thought of none but you.
I've been waiting in the hope that one day...
I cannot bear it, Andrew.
Are we to endure it all again?
The parting and the heartache?
No, not the parting.
I swear to you, never the parting.
Damn!
I know who you are!
We should leave, it isn't safe here!
Of course.
Follow me.
Get out!
I don't imagine we've seen the last of the unrest.
I wonder how Verity and I missed it.
But we had so much to talk of, we barely noticed another soul.
Verity seemed in high spirits.
She did, indeed.
I'm that glad.
She deserves to be content.
She should make the most of it.
Why?
Her life is about to change.
And not for the better.
It was monstrous crowded in Truro.
Kenwyn Street was a boiling of miners and there was talk of a riot.
There will be rioting closer to home soon.
AGATHA: All these years...
Damn, it was old before I was born.
Old John Trenwith cut the first goffin the year afore he died.
200 years ago.
AGATHA: And never closed.
Not once.
Not long since, it yielded thousands a year.
It don't seem right.
It don't seem right at all.
What's this?
Shall you tell her?
Or shall I let you have the pleasure?
For months now, you know that Grambler has been failing.
She means Francis has been failing.
We could no longer afford the repayments on the loans.
Thanks to his profligacy and mismanagement.
So in an attempt to recoup these losses, Francis today staked... Gambled.
...the mine.
Mm.
ELIZABETH: On a game of cards.
He lost.
What does this mean?
For Francis?
Loss of income, loss of pride, loss of family inheritance.
For Verity and Elizabeth?
A sharp decline in their standard of living.
For the Warleggans?
A chance to tighten their stranglehold by closing down a rival mine.
And for the poor souls who worked there?
Unimaginable hardship.
All because one man was weak and others were greedy.
So often, I've envied Elizabeth.
Why?
Why did you envy Francis?
There's no need for you to come.
Elizabeth... Elizabeth!
What I did was unforgivable.
But my love for you... My love will always... FRANCIS: My friends...
This has been a Poldark mine for over 200 years.
Generations of all our families have worked it together.
It was my dearest wish that my own son would take it up, but time and circumstance have ruined that hope.
It may be that we shall all meet here again to see her resurrection, but... (crying) For the present... Um...
It is now 12:00 noon.
(clears throat) (ringing) (bell continues ringing) ♪ ♪ Elizabeth.
What can I do?
Not once has Francis asked me that question.
He's afraid to.
You must know this was never what he intended for you.
And yet, it is how it is.
And we shall weather it.
Retrench, make economies.
There are many worse off than we.
Let Francis feel sorry for himself.
I will not do so.
WOMAN: Dr. Enys!
He'll need to watch his step.
Dr. Enys!
He's young.
And handsome!
And green.
And free.
Do you envy him?
Sometimes.
You were right.
The world is a harder place now, thanks to Julia.
The stakes are higher.
Losses more painful.
Yet, I would not change places with him.
My life is more precious for being less certain and richer for being poorer.
What does it mean?
Resurgam?
"I shall rise again."
Shall we?
I hope so.
Next time on Masterpiece.
VERITY: Have you heard?
The Warleggans are giving a ball.
What a way to mark your entrance into society.
CARY: You underestimated him.
GEORGE: Ross is made of harder metal.
Well, his company's a threat.
And what do you intend to play with?
My stake in Wheal Leisure.
Poldark, next time on Masterpiece.
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