A Romantic Escapade Gone Wrong
Polly Honeycombe (Ashna Rabheru) narrates her escape from home to elope with Mr. Scribble and the subsequent cold slap of reality at the start of Renegade Nell Season 1 Episode 6, “Snatched By Strollers.” Her previous encounter with Nell Jackson (Louisa Harland) haunts her although she believes she was robbed by a man.
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Polly’s elopement takes her through Abingdon and the George and Dragon pub where she sees Roxy (Bo Bragason) wearing her dress. She deduces that Roxy is her highwayman’s girlfriend and he’d given her Polly’s gowns because he’d become infatuated with Polly after meeting her. When she goes to question Roxy, she’s kidnapped by the strolling players.
Her narration turns out to be in the players’ caravan and George (Florence Keen) reminds her she’s supposed to be writing a ransom note. The players who are guarding them consider returning Polly as she was kidnapped in error.
Polly excitedly tells George that she’s the true object of the highwayman’s affections. George informs her that Nell is a woman and her sister.
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George takes over writing the ransom note. She writes that they’re being taken to a barn outside Uffington. They want to trade her and Polly for Nell.
What They’re Meant To Do
Meanwhile, Nell robs a pig farmer for his clothes and cart, leaving him with his pigs and a bag of money. Billy (Nick Mohammed) sits next to her and discusses the implications of the voice they heard in Newgate and how she was attacked by Herne the Hunter. He figures there’s dark magic working against her.
Nell is still upset with what she saw in Newgate. She and Billy agree that they’re meant to stand up to injustice here at home. Billy isn’t sure they’ll save the world, but he is okay with starting with Tottenham.
Japhia’s Downward Spiral
In the caravan, George asks the players why they’re going around kidnapping people. They explain they used to perform at Drury Lane but Japhia lost his part after some bad reviews came out. He beat his replacement half to death, and then no one would hire the troupe. Japhia’s partner is expecting his baby and he’s desperate for fame before he becomes a father.
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Japhia comes into the caravan. He’s got blood spatter on his face from beating up the farmer so they could use his barn. He takes George’s spectacles and then realizes Polly isn’t Roxy when he removes the bag from her head.
Japhia flies into a rage and grabs the driver, Amorous, pulls him down, and beats him up. He returns and wonders how they’ll get rid of Polly. She tells him that her father is very rich, having made a fortune making periwigs. He agrees to keep her alive and then tells George that her sister better not be late.
Nell’s Return
Nell returns to the pub just in time to see Jack ride off in a hurry. Mrs. Trotter hugs her close and tells her George has been kidnapped. Roxy tells her they want Nell in exchange. Mr. Scribble has read the ransom note for them, but he doesn’t plan to stay and help rescue Polly.
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Nell insists on riding to Uffington alone. Roxy ignores this and rides alongside her. She wants to know what happened to Rasselas (Enyi Okoronkwo). Nell says he ran off and Roxy refuses to believe this.
Nell tells her about the prison riot, the magic walls, and passing out. Roxy reminds her that when they’re separated, things fall apart.
Poynton’s Plot
In London, Poynton (Adrian Lester) walks with Godolphin who warns him about the danger of Jacobites in the Privy Council. He wants Poynton to keep an ear out for any traitors to the queen. Poynton mentions he knows of one who has been sending letters to France.
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The Earl of Jersey approaches with a number of Queen’s Guards. He holds up letters found on Godolphin’s desk and arrests Godolphin.
The People Want Torrid
In her new house, Eularia (Joely Richardson) gives directions on how each of her papers will report on her encounter with Nell Jackson at Newgate.
In case Nell Jackson goes quiet after the prison riots, Eularia wants her news sheets full of stories that will provoke Nell into bursting back into the public eye. She okays a caricature of Nell as a devil.
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Moving onto the story of Devereaux’s (Frank Dillane) trial for his crimes as Isambard Tulley, she offers differing perspectives for each of her papers to report. Her assistant brings a young man with a story for her.
Back at the Manor
Rasselas peeks over the edge of the bridge to the Blancheford manor house as a carriage passes by. In the carriage, Poynton watches Thomas (Jake Dunn) sleep.
In the manor, Poynton visits Thomas in his new rooms, having moved him into his father’s old rooms. Thomas is bitter that he has been brought back to the estate against his will. Thomas blames Poynton, while Poynton praises what he’s accomplished. He tries to console Thomas as he despairs and offers him something that would take the feelings of guilt and shame away. He gives Thomas a snake pendant on a chain that matches his ring. Thomas puts it on and smiles.
A New Court Date
In Newgate, Devereaux is hunting a rodent in his room when Eularia arrives unannounced with new clothes. The young man brings news that because every prisoner except Devereaux escaped during the riots, his trial has been moved up to the very next day. Furthermore, because of the chaos caused by the riots, Devereaux will hang immediately if found guilty. Devereaux is confident Eularia has greased the system with cash. She is less confident and leaves quickly.
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Rasselas Learns the Truth
As they walk through the gardens, Poynton informs Sofia of Godolphin’s arrest. She quickly realizes that with Godolphin gone, Queen Anne (Jodhi May) will need a new captain for her bodyguard. Poynton expects to be appointed soon. He will use the guard to apprehend the queen and keep her subdued while James Stuart invades. Rasselas overhears everything as he follows their progress on the other side of a hedge.
Sofia expresses frustration at Nell escaping and takes it out on a crumpled news sheet which she levitates. Poynton is pleased that her powers have recovered.
Rescuing George
Nell arrives at the barn. The poster on the door is for a new production called The Triumph of Japhia. When she enters, the troupe announcer makes a loud speech and directs a spotlight on her. Japhia makes a grand entrance and shows Nell George’s spectacles before dropping them in a flaming crucible.
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Japhia tells Nell he’s read about how she’s impossible to hurt in a fight but points out the same is not true for George. One of the players brings George out, and Japhia holds a red-hot poker on her. Nell offers anything if he’ll just leave George alone.
A tray with two cups is brought out, and Japhia explains that Nell’s cup has poison, and they’ll toast it, and she must drink it. He believes killing her will make him a hero. The other players notice Roxy climbing in through the back of the barn and gesture for her to come in quietly.
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Billy appears on the tray with the cups. He tells Nell to distract Japhia, and he’ll figure something out. Nell laughs at Japhia’s use of poison. He argues it’s a classic. Billy gets to work switching the cups. When Nell makes fun of Japhia’s sweatiness, he orders his goon to put out George’s eyes with the poker. Nell acquiesces and takes the cup closest to her.
They both drink, and Nell coughs, causing Billy to worry. She recovers and explains that she just swallowed a fly. Japhia begins to feel unwell and falls to the ground. He tries to make a last speech, but the curtain falls on his head.
New Plans
Japhia’s partner’s water breaks just then. Nell helps with the baby’s delivery. Polly and George sit outside listening to the screaming. Once the baby’s born, Nell comes out of the caravan holding it. Polly is so overcome by the sight that she grabs Nell and kisses her full on the lips. The remaining players ask Nell about what she’d like them to title the show they’re writing about her.
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Polly tells Nell the news sheets are writing that her whole family are scoundrels, but she’s sure no one will believe it. The players correct her in that what the news sheets are printing is exactly what the upper class wants to believe. Nell decides the next step is to visit the publishers and smash up their presses. The players agree to give them a lift to London.
Sofia Plays Rasselas
A storm’s moving in and Sofia gets caught at a folly in the rain. Rasselas is waiting for her there. He tells her that he was at Newgate and heard her voice there. He asks her about Poynton. She insists that Poynton is helping her. She accuses Rasselas of abandoning her and throwing away their friendship. Rasselas reminds her that Lord Blancheford bought him as a plaything for her and Thomas and then relegated him to the stables when they outgrew the relationship.
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He urges her to tell the truth. She’s afraid of what will happen to Thomas. He reminds her that she’s the fair one who would protect him from Thomas when they were children. She tells him to return to Nell, but before he leaves, she exchanges the bandage on his hand for a clean cloth and wishes him good luck.
Rasselas rides away. Sofia watches from a window and then takes the bloody bandage she took off him and places it in a jar next to her spell book.
Renegade Nell is available to stream on Disney+.
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