Showing posts with label Episode Summaries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Episode Summaries. Show all posts

Monday, January 9, 2023

Episode 3 Season 1 – Happy Valley Episode Summary 1.3

Episode 3 Season 1 Episode Summary: PC Kirsten McAskill inadvertently pulls over the van holding Ann resulting into a grave unexpected turn of events.  Recent developments cause the kidnappers to consider ending the abduction after the last ransom payment giving Nevison Gallagher hope of her daughter’s return.  Sgt. Catherine Cawood unlawfully breaks inside Tommy’s last known whereabouts and discovers probable criminal activity in the cellar.

Happy Valley Recap of Episode 3 Season 1: PC Kirsten McAskill is happily chatting with Sgt. Catherine Cawood on the radio about the odd affinity of sheep farmers towards their sheep when she comes across a speeding white van with a broken tail-light.  PC McAskill informs Sgt. Cawood of her plan to pull over the white van not knowing Ann Gallagher is hidden inside it, and Tommy Lee Royce is following behind in Ann’s yellow Mini Cooper.  Tommy Lee Royce pulls ahead of them watching closely as PC McAskill speaks to Lewis Whippey of his traffic violation including the broken tail-light, which she insists Lewis inspect with her.  PC McAskill is ready to let Lewis go when she hears Ann’s muffled screaming and banging on the door that grows louder causing her to insist on Lewis to open the van’s door.  Tommy Lee Royce drives the Mini Cooper behind the van, but PC McAskill thinks nothing of it until Tommy pins her into the van with the car and runs her over multiple times for good measure horrifying Lewis Whippey.  Tommy orders the shocked Lewis to drive away, while he follows him but not before running over the constable a few times more.

PC McAskill managed to call for help alerting Sgt. Cawood to send the police force to her aid, but unfortunately was unable to complete the PNC request denying the police identification of the white transit van.  Sgt. Catherine Cawood and PC Shafiq Shah followed by PC Twiggy arrive at the crime scene where the brutalized body of PC Kirsten McAskill lays motionless.  Sgt. Cawood initiates the investigation of PC McAskill’s murder and begins preserving evidence as PC Shah and Twiggy are still processing the death of their colleague.  CS Praveen Badal tells Sgt. Cawood to go home but she ends up being the one to tell and console PC McAskill’s husband, Ollie, the painful news of his wife’s murder.  Out of compassion for the distraught widower, Sgt. Cawood offers to deliver the heartbreaking news to the late constable’s parents.  Unlike Sgt. Cawood, CS Badal’s compassion does not go beyond instructing her to go home after she has completed the necessary paperwork, and callously questions Sgt. Cawood’s arrest of Councilor Marcus Gascoigne.  Sgt. Cawood leaves no doubt to the legitimacy of the councilor’s arrest, but CS Badal instructs her to prevent having the packet of cocaine sent to the lab and insists she obstruct justice when she refused to comply to his request.

At home, Catherine could no longer contain her emotions as she imparts to Clare the evening’s events including her guilt for her cruelty at letting PC McAskill feel incompetent following her failure to arrest Councilor Marcus Gascoigne herself.  She copes with her grief by contemplating the crime PC McAskill must have uncovered, which led to her violent death, but it’s not enough for the colleague’s murder had resurfaced the trauma of her daughter’s death causing Catherine to see images of her.  Catherine manages to function despite having anxiety attacks of her own, and reminds her team to do their jobs with compassion and respect for the people they serve will not know their grief.  Sgt. Cawood and Twiggy arrest a writhing, delusional addict convinced the government is spying on him when one of his neighbors starts singing a song disrespectfully alluding to the death of PC McAskill.  Sgt. Cawood does not tolerate the impudence, roughly arrests the insolent man, and in the privacy of the police car squeezes the man’s genitals leaving the man in tears, terrified, and apologetic.

Tommy and Lewis manage to bring Ann to Ashley’s caravan park where Ashley instructs Tommy to dump Ann in the middle of nowhere alive, but Tommy disagrees and directs Ashley to demand an even higher ransom informing him of Lewis’ mistakes which could almost certainly lead the police to them leaving Ashley to follow Tommy’s orders.  Ashley calls Nev to demand more money, sends proof of life as per Nev’s requirement, and informs the tormented father of possibly letting Ann go after the last ransom payment.

Jenny Weatherill notices Kevin’s distress, and becomes equally distressed upon learning he has taken part of the ransom that is now hidden in their car.  However, both of them have reservations parting with the money and after short deliberations both agree to keep and use the ransom money prudently to avoid suspicion.  Meanwhile, Helen Gallagher is watching the news of the police investigation surrounding PC McAskill’s murder, unware of her daughter’s kidnappers’ involvement.  She goes to her volunteer work at the mission where her friend Clare whom she helped through her addiction also volunteers, and confides her need to speak to a discreet police officer hoping Clare would connect her with Catherine.

Sgt. Cawood returns to the police station, begins cleaning up PC McAskill’s locker resurfacing her grief, and triggers morbid hallucinations of her deceased daughter.  Ollie’s visit adds to her sorrow when the grieving husband blames Catherine for Kirsten’s death attributing her recent harsh treatment of the fallen police officer as the reason for Kirsten’s need to prove herself.  Catherine once again finds diversion in Richard who she was ignoring following his refusal to acknowledge Ryan as his grandson, and surprisingly learns Richard has had a change of heart.  Their date is cut short when she remembers needing to be home to speak with Clare’s friend, Helen, only to learn the woman did not show up causing her to worry and to demand Clare call her friend.  Catherine speaks with Helen, senses her reticence, and begins to suspect her husband’s presence as the cause, which in fact is the case after Nev prevented Helen from going to Catherine’s house to speak to her believing the kidnappers will let Ann go after the last ransom payment.  Although Helen agreed to forego speaking with Catherine, she remains unconvinced of her husband’s belief and refusal to involve the police.

Kevin agrees to make the last drop despite his initial reluctance to do so, and goes to the caravan park to hand Ashley the ransom money learning from past experience to bypass specific drop-off instructions.  Kevin once again receives his cut of the ransom money, and comes across an upset Lewis who blames him for everything that has happened revealing the murder of the policewoman as a tragic consequence of the kidnapping.

Sgt. Cawood illegally breaks into the house where Tommy was last seen, finds it suspiciously empty despite signs of habitation, leading her to explore further resulting in her discovery of blood and signs of other criminal activity in the cellar.  Catherine calls Clare confiding her discovery, and the problem of reporting it given its unlawful attainment.  Clare is more concerned with Catherine’s plans with Tommy, which is the reason why she kept secret seeing Tommy at the mission, and remains worried upon hearing Catherine’s need to prevent Tommy from hurting anyone else.

Next Happy Valley Episode Summary: Episode 4 of Season 1
Previous Happy Valley Episode Summary: Episode 2 of Season 1
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Episode 2 Season 1 – Happy Valley Episode Summary 1.2

 Episode 2 Season 1 Episode Summary: Kevin Weatherill confesses to his wife of his involvement in Ann Gallagher’s kidnapping, becomes entangled when Ashley Cowgill explicitly asks for him to make the drop of the deposit, and secures his undeniable involvement after receiving a portion of the ransom.  Meanwhile, Catherine Cawood’s dogged determination to uncover Tommy Lee Royce’s whereabouts leads her to the kidnapper’s hideout.

Happy Valley Recap of Episode 2 Season 1: Sgt. Catherine Cawood initiates Operation Greensleeves and pursues drug dealers selling drugs in an ice cream van playing Greensleeves alone and on foot.  The drug dealers see her and escape easily insolent of the helpless police officer.  She returns to the police station and calls Clare revealing having seen Tommy in their district worrying her sister after sensing Catherine’s resumed obsession in proving Tommy is a rapist.  Later, she receives information about the drug dealing ice cream van while in the police station affording her a team to conduct Operation Greensleeves properly leading to the arrest of the drug dealers.

Catherine arrives home with the black eye she received from the foot of one of the drug dealers she arrested, and recounts the day’s events to her sister including her annoyance with the drug squad’s reluctance to share information with her team.  Clare is relieved to hear the incident has preoccupied her sister only to learn that Catherine had brought a mugshot of Tommy to the curry house where she last saw him.  In fact, Catherine had asked the proprietor to call her when he sees Tommy, but cautions him not to alarm the criminal.  Catherine suddenly remembers to call Richard to ask him about Kevin Weatherill having noticed him residing on the same street as her husband.  Richard knows him as a pleasant, quiet, ordinary father of two girls, a caring husband to a wife in the early stages of multiple sclerosis working as an accountant for Nevison Gallagher.

Kevin arrives home and confides to his wife, Jenny, the disturbing news of Ann’s kidnapping and Helen’s terminal illness.  He is surprised to hear Ashley had called him after the man had dismissed and explicitly instructed him not to contact him, but Ashley wants verification that Nev had not gone to the police and more importantly has started to raise the million pound ransom.  Kevin has regained his confidence, scolds Ashley for doubling the ransom, instructs him to accept a smaller ransom, and insists they not hurt Ann, but Ashley could not guarantee Ann’s safety.  Kevin is overcome with guilt once again, and divulges his involvement with the kidnapping to Jenny who comforts her fearful husband with the rationalization that Ann will be unscathed, and Kevin’s involvement can be denied as long as they don’t take the money.

Lewis Whippey checks on Ann to offer her food and a chance to relieve herself, and is startled to find her underwear on the ground.  He calls Ashley to inform him of his discovery, and to establish if Ashley had ordered the rape only to learn Tommy had done it on his own initiative.  Lewis makes it clear of his refusal to perform sexual assault on their abductee, and becomes protective of Ann when Tommy returns to the hideout insisting he forego raping Ann again reasoning with him of the consequences, but Tommy is unafraid certain Ann will not be returned to her parents alive.  Tommy goes down to the garage to take Ann’s photo as per Ashley’s instructions, a proof of life and Ann’s distress to be sent to her father, and is about to violate Ann again until Lewis intervenes forcing him to beat Lewis instead.

Sgt. Cawood arrives at a traffic collision after PC Kirsten McAskill calls for her help following Councilman Marcus Gascoigne’s vehement refusal to take a breathalyzer, which he continues to refuse despite Sgt. Cawood’s insistence.  Sgt. Cawood confiscates Marcus’ car keys as per protocol ensuring the man suspected under the influence does not drive away, and finds a packet of illegal substance in his vehicle causing her to arrest the furious councilman for suspicion of drunk driving and possession of an illegal substance despite his threats against her.  Sgt. Cawood returns to the police station and chastises mortified PC McAskill for allowing the councilman to intimidate her causing the constable to seek Sgt. Cawood’s assistance, but the constable’s remorse is unappreciated.

Catherine and Clare with Ryan arrive at Daniel’s house for dinner where the child is clearly unwelcome setting the tone for an awkward dinner made even more uncomfortable by Richard and his new wife, Ros’ bickering over the woman’s desire to purchase a more expensive house despite Richard’s job loss.  To alleviate the tension, Daniel delivers the news that brought them all together, and announces his wife, Lucy, is pregnant, but Ros unwittingly curtails the felicity with her comment of Catherine and Richard becoming grandparents causing Catherine to remind everyone they already are.  Later that evening, Ryan begins to wonder and asks his relationship with Richard who he learns is his grandfather, and expresses his wish to spend time with him.

Anguished Nevison unburdens to Helen their daughter’s kidnapping, but he remains determined not to involve the police until they have retrieved their daughter.  He receives another call from Ashley wanting to receive a deposit of the ransom, explicitly instructing Nev to have Kevin make the drop at McDonald’s.  Kevin acquiesces, drives to the farm after receiving a call from Ashley reminding him the superfluity of going to the drop off point, and receives his portion of the deposit.

Catherine visits Richard at his house and is brought to tears in relaying Ryan’s request to spend time with him, but Richard is unmoved and is loathed to admit Ryan’s kinship blaming the child for their daughter’s suicide.  Catherine comes across Kevin as he arrives home, and checks on him but their conversation is interrupted by a call from the proprietor of the curry house informing her of having served Tommy and seeing the house where he’s staying.  Catherine knocks on the door of the house, alarming Tommy and causing him to call Ashley who sets in motion an inchoate plan of moving Ann involving the reluctant Lewis Whippey.  Unable to hear Ann’s muffled screams, Sgt. Cawood walks away, but it is enough to unnerve the perpetrators causing them to speculate the police have been alerted.

Next Happy Valley Episode Summary: Episode 3 of Season 1
Previous Happy Valley Episode Summary: Episode 1 of Season 1
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Episode 1 Season 1 – Happy Valley Episode Summary 1.1

Episode 1 Season 1 Episode Summary: Sergeant Catherine Cawood copes with the news of  Tommy Lee Royce’s release from prison, while dealing with her troubled grandson’s disturbing behavior, and the numerous drug-related cases in her district.  Unbeknownst to her, she has also come across a kidnapping on its outset and has the identity of its mastermind.

Happy Valley Recap of Episode 1 Season 1: Sergeant Catherine Cawood, a 47-year-old divorcee, arrives at a convenience store, buys a fire extinguisher and a pair of sunglasses.  She meets PC Kirsten McAskill at a nearby playground hauling the fire extinguisher while donning her newly bought sunglasses for protection.  They are attending to Liam Hughes, a 23-year-old unemployed heroin addict who has doused himself in gasoline and threatening self-immolation after learning his ex-girlfriend has started sleeping with his best friend.

Sgt. Cawood keeps Liam engaged while waiting for the high-ranking, highly trained specialist expert negotiator to arrive.  She introduces herself as a 47-year-old divorcee living with her recovering heroin addict sister.  Moreover, Catherine has two adult children, one estranged, the other deceased and had left her with a grandson.  Later, Richard Cawood, Catherine’s journalist ex-husband, catches her on her way home from work and asks about the incident at the playground hoping to get details to write for his newspaper.  He invites her to dinner adding he is about to lose his job.  Although sympathetic, Catherine makes her leave as she is to fetch her grandson, Ryan.  Richard, however, shares the devastating news of Tommy Lee Royce’s release from prison.  The news gnaws at her mind as she waits for her grandson at the schoolyard when another unpleasant news greets her.  Ryan lost his temper at school and threw chairs across the room hurting himself in the process.  Catherine arrives home and updates her sister, Clare, of Ryan’s disturbing behavior along with the upsetting news of Tommy Lee Royce’s discharge only to learn Clare already knew about Tommy but kept it from her to spare her grief.

Kevin Weatherill speaks with Nevison Gallagher, the owner of Nevison Gallagher Associates Industrial Refrigeration, about his daughter’s acceptance at a prestigious school and asks for a raise.  Nevison condescendingly alludes to rejecting Kevin’s request, but informs him of considering his request.  Kevin becomes upset over dinner as he and his wife discuss Nevison’s decision to reject his pay raise request.  The Gallagher’s dinner conversation is about Kevin’s request as well for he is a friend of the family.  Both Nevison’s wife and daughter disagree with his decision, and his daughter walks out after he bluntly expresses his disappointment for not seeing the fruits of her expensive college education.

Catherine has accepted Richard’s dinner invitation after all, and she listens patiently as he casually complains about his new wife’s inconsiderate desire to buy a new house despite his job loss.  His new wife is confident of him finding another job, a confidence he, a middle-aged man, doesn’t share.  Richard presses Catherine again on the incident on the playground, one people have been gossiping about and have blown out of proportion.  As it turns out, Catherine had sprayed Liam with the fire extinguisher the moment he decided to smoke a cigarette unaware it would unwittingly ignite him.  Catherine becomes annoyed when Richard continues to press her of the uninteresting domestic case with the heroin addict and irritably recommends he write about a more substantial article on the proliferation of drugs in their district.  She then moves on to the most likely reason for her accepting the dinner invitation, Tommy Lee Royce.  Catherine presses Richard for information about Tommy, but he doesn’t have much to share.  She knows more about Tommy than Richard having done her research after learning the news of his release.  Catherine has learned of his release address, but is doubtful he is actually living with his mother while on probation.  Richard drives Catherine home, and finds her desirously gazing at him.  They kiss passionately and decide to continue their tryst in the house.  The next morning, Catherine visits the grave of her deceased eighteen-year-old daughter with Clare and Ryan, and confides her preoccupation with Tommy Lee Royce whose whereabouts is unknown but whom she believes is close.

Kevin brings his family to the caravan park they frequent, and continues to be resentful of Nev.  He has deluded himself of deserving half of Nev’s company, believing his father and Nev conceived the industrial refrigeration business together.  Kevin’s father instead ended up working for Nev when he returned home from college.  The sight of the caravan park’s owner’s expensive vehicles fills him with envy.  Kevin brings his caravan rental payment to Ashley Cowgill, the proprietor, while Ashley and his men are unloading bags of sand.  One of the bags rips revealing cannabis packets hidden in the sand.  Ashley forces Kevin to join him inside his house through threats despite Kevin’s assurances of silence, and is astounded with the man’s proposal; one Kevin had clearly already deliberated.  Kevin proposes working together to kidnap Ann, Nev’s daughter, for a half a million pound ransom.  Ashley releases Kevin while he considers the proposal.  Jittery Lewis Whippey confronts Ashley after seeing Kevin leaving the house unafraid and even confident, and conveys of his unease of the new hire whose bag of sand ripped.  Ashley is unconcerned of a recently released ex-convict who served eight years in prison.  In fact, he trusts Tommy enough to discuss Kevin’s proposal with him and Lewis.  Later that evening, Ashley calls for Kevin to inform him of his decision.  He and his men will proceed with the kidnapping and offers Kevin only ten percent of the ransom upsetting Kevin enough to threaten squealing to the authorities Ashley’s side business.  Ashley expresses his indifference having already removed the evidence from his property, and reminds Kevin of his ability to accomplish the kidnapping without his help.  Powerless Kevin instead negotiates a twenty percent cut leveraging both his daughters’ education.  The next day, Nev calls Kevin to his office to inform him of his decision to pay for Kevin’s daughters’ school fees following Nev’s wife and daughter’s badgering.  Moreover, Nev offers him a deputy managing director role revealing his need to take leave given his wife’s dismal liver cancer prognosis.

Sgt. Catherine Cawood and PC Shafiq Shah enters a flat after receiving a 999 call of suspected distress, and finds two drug addicts in bed.  They arrest the man who still has a syringe in his foot without complications unlike Liam Hughes who Sgt. Cawood reveals has threatened charges against her for assault.  Moreover, the newsagent who sold her the fire extinguisher decided to charge her personally for the item.  To add to Catherine’s misfortunes, she is once again summoned at the school due to Ryan’s bouts of anger.  The principal informs Catherine of having an educational psychologist spend time with Ryan to uncover the cause of his repeated misconduct especially after receiving complaints from other parents.  She believes the psychologist can help Ryan manage his anger.  Catherine breaks down in tears and reveals Ryan is the product of the brutal rape of her daughter, Becky, who took her life six weeks after giving birth to Ryan.  Catherine does her best to care for the unwanted child so undesired for being the constant reminder of Becky’s rape and eventual suicide that her husband left her following her decision to care for their grandson.  She reveals Tommy Lee Royce as Becky’s rapist, imprisoned for drug trafficking but not her daughter’s rape.  Catherine is terrified that Ryan is just like Tommy.  Later that evening, she once again seeks comfort in a tryst with Richard to whom she confides her gruesome fantasy of killing Tommy Lee Royce.

Kevin is overcome with a guilty conscience and unsuccessfully persuades Ashley to abandon the kidnapping that is already underway.  He decides to go to a police station, and insists on speaking to a proper police officer.  Sgt. Cawood attends to a distressed Kevin who struggles to convey the crime he has come to report.  She notices Kevin’s consternation and offers to continue their chat in her office.  Sgt. Cawood makes her way to the side door of the precinct to let Kevin in, but he instead returns to his car and drives away.  She makes note of Kevin’s license plate, and returns to the precinct to respond to another case.  Kevin finds a phone booth and calls Ashley wanting reassurance that Ann will not be hurt.

Lewis and Tommy have been following Ann in a white van waiting for the right moment to hit her car.  They find an opportunity at a remote road.  Ann steps out of her yellow Mini Cooper and scolds Lewis while Tommy puts on his ski mask and punches Ann.  Lewis and Tommy carry a frantic, screaming Ann inside the van struggling to be free of her kidnappers, but the two men overpower her.  Tommy hits Ann once again stunning her enough allowing them to gag, bind, and put her inside a sleeping bag.  Tommy finds Ann’s mobile phone in her car and gives it to Lewis before taking her car leaving a nervous Lewis with Ann.  Tommy drives Ann’s Mini Cooper into town while Lewis follows close behind.  They carry Ann inside a garage and Lewis inadvertently mention’s Ashley’s name causing Tommy to threaten him if he makes another mistake.  Lewis leaves for the farm to bring Ashley Ann’s mobile phone, while Tommy goes for a walk.  Sgt. Cawood is driving back to the police station telling PC McAskill her last case when she notices Tommy on the sidewalk looking inside a closed curry house.  She parks her patrol car and runs to the sidewalk where she last saw him, but he is gone and nowhere in sight.  Unbeknownst to her, Tommy has returned to the garage where Ann is bound.

Nev receives a call from Ann’s mobile phone only it’s not Ann on the other line, but Ashley.  Ashley, who refers to himself as God, instructs Nev to take his call in twenty minutes on a specific phone booth.  Kevin watches as Nev rushes out of the office, and later receives a frantic call from Nev telling him Ann has been kidnapped and her captors are asking a million quid for ransom.  Nev has called Kevin for help raising the ransom in two days without raising alarms.  Unbeknownst to Kevin, Sgt. Cawood has returned to the police station and looks up his license plate from the database revealing his identity.

Next Happy Valley Episode Summary: Episode 2 of Season 1
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Sunday, July 5, 2015

Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est – Orphan Black Episode Summary 2.5

Sarah Manning stands in front of Helena's sniper rifle
Orphan Black Episode 5 Season 2 Synopsis:  Rachel Duncan reacts to the murder of Daniel Rosen with a blackmail that puts Felix Dawkins in danger of incarceration and prevents Cosima Niehaus from receiving treatment for her fatal illness.  Helena conveys vital yet vague information to Detective Art Bell, but leaves enough clues for Sarah and Art to uncover their meaning.

Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est Episode Summary: Rachel Duncan arrives at her apartment demanding to see the corpse of her loyal monitor, Daniel Rosen.  They recognize Helena’s handiwork in the slaying, but Dr. Aldous Leekie notes the security camera footage that shows the twins leaving the apartment together.  He attributes the vicious murder to Rachel’s heavy-handed tactics and urges the shift to a gentler way of handling the clones.  Rachel, however, assures him that the nefarious murder of her monitor does not dissuade her from pursuing equally wicked schemes against the clones.Continue reading...

Rachel answers the slaying of her monitor with the shutting down of the stem cell line research meant to treat the unknown illness that clones including Cosima Niehaus suffer.  It is a tactic meant to force Sarah Manning to agree to Dyad’s wishes.  Meanwhile, Cosima continues to look into the synthetic DNA of the clones and learns from her friend, Scott, that geneticists placed provisional patents on everything given the absence of laws on genetics.  It is Scott’s belief that science as radical as synthetic DNA in the 1970s would have a military patent.  Despite Cosima’s reliance on Scott’s knowledge, the young scientist is discouraged at the Dyad Institute’s refusal to employ him.  His disappointment is not of great concern to Delphine Cormier for she fortuitously received tissue test results from a stem cell line that are a match to Cosima.  The test results were meant for Dr. Leekie, but were accidentally sent to Dr. Cormier.  They become suspicious of Dr. Leekie for keeping from them the cultures.  With Dr. Cormier’s suggestion, they sneak into Dr. Leekie’s office to find the cultures compatible with Cosima, and find themselves caught red-handed.  Dr. Cormier takes a defensive stance and accuses Dr. Leekie of withholding a stem cell line from them, an accusation the Dyad director denies.  Dr. Leekie explains that Rachel has obstructed further testing of the pluripotent stem cell line from baby teeth that he had discussed with Cosima and Dr. Cormier in an attempt to coerce Sarah’s cooperation.  Furthermore, he imparts the story of the lab fire that cost the lives of several scientists and destroyed reams of data including the original genome.  In other words, the project is entirely an orphan with all record of several synthetic sequences that make the existence of the clones viable gone.  He asks Cosima to relay to him any information Sarah may have uncovered, but Cosima is adamant in her ignorance of such information.  Dr. Leekie remains suspicious, but expresses his willingness to disobey Rachel’s order and resumes Cosima’s treatment.

With Daniel dead, Rachel is in need of a new monitor, and she sets her eyes on Paul Dierden.  The knowledge that Rachel has a monitor despite her self-awareness and privilege surprises Paul.  She explains that she merely enjoys a unique vantage compared to the other clones, but reports to Dr. Leekie about her health and wellbeing are still required.  Paul agrees to become Rachel’s monitor where he is to report to Dr. Leekie about her health, while remaining loyal to her.  She explains that Dr. Leekie had become her guardian after being orphaned, but despite this, Rachel’s position outranks Dr. Leekie’s Dyad directorship.  She finds that Dr. Leekie has the propensity to become attached to his subjects and therefore compromising his decisions.  She watches the home video from her childhood delighting in the good memories while disliking the fact that Sarah has been studying her background.  Rachel begins investigating Cal Morrison and learns from Paul that the anti-corporate lover of Sarah made his money from micro-optics.  More importantly, there is a high probability that he is the father of Sarah’s child, Kira.  Aware of Paul’s attachment to Sarah, Rachel taunts him of the fact that Sarah has reunited with the father of her child.  She also tests his loyalty by giving him a task that involves the Daniel’s gun that was used in the murder of a police officer.

Much to Felix Dawkin’s dismay, Sarah brings Helena to his apartment and asks him to chaperone her while she works on straightening her own troubles beginning with the abandonment of Kira to the child’s father.  In fact, Kira has expressed her disappointment with the lack of affection towards her mother in the last Skype conversation they had.  Moreover, she has begun to refer to Cal as daddy.  Later, Cal’s RV parked in the woods catches the attention of a police officer who has become suspicious of its presence.  Precocious Kira shrewdly senses the trouble it will cause them should the police officer snoop inside the RV and happen to find the gun of which Cal is in possession.  Kira makes an appearance thus appeasing the police officer of his suspicion and intentionally mentions the burning dinner on the stove thus prompting the police officer to forego his investigation.

Felix brings Helena to the apartment of Detective Art Bell and receives treatment fit for a vicious criminal, which she is, but in spite of this Helena is to stay there for her own protection.  Detective Bell begins inquiring about the deceased Prolethean, Maggie Chen, whom Helena was working with before.  Witnessing her escape from Johanssen’s followers while wearing a wedding dress makes him wonder about the events that transpired in the Prolethean’s ranch, but Helena is uncooperative.  Detective Bell follows Felix’s advice and lures Helena with food.  The strategy worked and Helena becomes forthcoming about the information she holds.  She speaks of her childhood at a convent in Ukraine where she at an early age committed murderous acts.  She also speaks of Swan Man, information she came to know from Maggie Chen’s locker.

The Proletheans learn of Gracie Johanssen’s guilt at Helena’s escape causing her mother to punish her severely by sewing her mouth shut and imprisoning her.  Henrik Johanssen takes pity on his daughter, and gives her a chance for reconciliation if she decides to tell them the events that led to Helena’s escape.  Regrettably, Gracie refuses to agree to her parents’ demands causing them to leave her imprisoned.  Mark Rollins takes pity on Gracie and apologizes for his inability to help her out of her situation. Unlike her parents, Mark does not think less of her for what she did, and he expresses his love for her with a soft kiss on the cheek giving Gracie delight in spite of her unfortunate situation.  He, however, recommends that she confess her transgression.  Gracie accepts Mark’s advice and confesses of the attempted murder of Helena, an individual she believed to be an animal.  Her penance is to bring Helena back to the ranch and failure to do so will result in her carrying Helena’s child.

Paul arrives with a few corrupt police officers at Felix’s apartment, while he is in a compromising position with his date, Colin.  He pulls out the gun Daniel used to shoot a police officer and forces Felix to hold it thereby getting the poor man’s fingerprints all over the gun.  Sarah returns to Felix’s apartment only to find it surrounded by police cars.  She receives a call from Paul through Felix’s cellphone extorting her agreement to Rachel’s demand with a threat of a murder charge on Felix should she reject it.  Sarah reaches out to Detective Bell conveying the extortion and the legitimate threat of charging Felix for the murder of Officer Tom Bowman.  In the few minutes that he was on the phone, Helena managed to free herself from the handcuffs with the sardine can opener.  Sarah arrives too late for Helena had escaped and had left Art handcuffed to a column.  Helena did leave them coordinates through a paper fortuneteller helping Sarah and Art find Maggie Chen’s storage locker and allowing them to find a current picture of Swan Man, the adoptive father of Rachel Duncan thought to be deceased.  Sarah believes she can use this information to trade for Felix, who waits in terrifying anticipation of his possible incarceration.  The discovery of Helena’s missing sniper rifle from Maggie Chen’s locker and a beheaded Barbie doll of Rachel Duncan sidetracks their rescue of Felix.  Helena stations herself at an abandoned building across Rachel’s apartment and watches her seduce Paul.  Paul does everything Rachel commands and they have sexual intercourse on a chair, while Helena watches them waiting, biding her time before pulling the trigger.  Sarah and Art find her motorcycle in front of an abandoned building and easily find Helena in position for the kill.  Sarah dissuades her from taking down Rachel due to the hold they have over Felix, but Helena tries to convince Sarah of her good intentions by having her witness Paul’s infidelity.  Sarah could not care less about Paul, but Helena is adamant in killing both Paul and Rachel, causing Sarah to stand in the line of fire to prevent her twin from pulling the trigger.  Sarah appeals to Helena giving her the feeling of importance given her need for Helena’s help in searching for Swan Man, but Helena senses that Sarah only wants to use her.  Sarah, in tears, appeals to Helena’s sisterly love, and successfully manages to dissuade her from killing Rachel and Paul.  With the murder of Rachel Duncan averted and Dr. Leekie’s willingness to work with them, the clones agree to share some information with the Dyad director.  Sarah meets him at a bar and shows him a current picture of Professor Ethan Duncan therefore annulling the belief of his death from the lab fire and suggesting that knowledge of the original genome is not all lost.  Sarah is willing to share his whereabouts, but only after all charges against Felix are dropped.  Dr. Leekie offers to counterman Rachel’s orders that would cause her to drop the charges against Felix and to allow Cosima’s treatment.  Sarah is unaware that Cosima is suffering from the same illness that afflicted Katja Obinger, and her ignorance of it seems to have given Dr. Leekie advantage he might be able to use in the future.  Nonetheless, Sarah feels that she has the advantage and she threatens Dr. Leekie of death at the hands of Helena should he send an envoy to follow her in her search for Professor Duncan.  Paul arrives soon after Sarah leaves to speak to Dr. Leekie of Rachel’s concern given her knowledge of his meeting with Sarah.  Dr. Leekie explains that the information Sarah will uncover could hurt them all, and instructs Paul to come to him first instead of Rachel.  Sarah and Helena begin their search of Swan Man and immediately make their way to Cold River.


Next Orphan Black Episode Summary: To Hound Nature in Her Wanderings
Previous Orphan Black Episode Summary: Governed As It Were by Chance
More Orphan Black Episode Guides
Watch the Orphan Black Season 2 episode Ipsa Scientia Potestas Est [HD]

Sunday, June 21, 2015

Governed as It Were by Chance – Orphan Black Episode Summary 2.4

Helena and Sarah Manning in shower
Orphan Black Episode 4 Season 2 Synopsis: Sarah Manning escapes Daniel Rosen and reunites with Kira with the help of Cal Morison.  She has come to believe that Mrs. S is the key to uncovering the truth about Project LEDA, and has decided to leave Kira to Cal while she searches for Mrs. S.  Alison Hendrix resurfaces from her heavy inebriation and she finds herself in rehab, while Helena remembers glimpses of the violation done to her and escapes from the Proletheans.

Governed as It Were by Chance Episode Summary: Cal Morrison was driving the truck that hit the car Daniel Rosen forced Sarah Manning to drive.  The incident was no accident for Cal had intentionally hit the car in an attempt to rescue Sarah from her kidnapper.  Cal declares calling the cops to report the events that transpired in his farm that led to the death of his friend, Police Officer Tom Bowman.  Sarah refuses to involve the police and panics when she sees a police car approaching them.  She readies the gun Daniel Rosen had used to murder Officer Bowman, and is relieved when the police car zips past them.  Cal is in disbelief after observing Sarah’s reaction and planned action had the police confronted them.  Nonetheless, he helps Sarah hide the wrecked car that holds Daniel.Continue reading...

Mired in Sarah’s troubles, Cal demands to know the truth, but the mother of his child refuses to divulge it to him.  He brings her to a deserted farm where he hid Kira, and reunites mother and daughter.  He shows them the camper he had prepared for their escape, and Sarah goes with him without protest.  Cal continues to extract information from Sarah and receives one that vaguely revealed the antagonists.  Shortly after the revelation, Sarah receives a text message from Rachel Duncan on Daniel’s phone asking for an update.  She replies to Rachel with news of returning to the institute with Sarah Manning.  She later contacts Cosima Niehaus to update her of her troubles, and shares with her the photo of Project LEDA.  Cosima relates the name with the Greek mythology where Zeus turns himself into a swan in order to seduce the mortal queen, Leda.  Their encounter bore fruit twins, the immortal demigod Pollux, the son of Zeus, and the mortal Castor, the son of her husband, King Tyndareus of Sparta.  Cosima figures that the choice of the name sounds military and the presence of a soldier in the picture adds validation to her assumption.  Sarah begins to believe that Mrs. S is the key to unlocking the mystery surrounding Project LEDA, and persuades Cal of her return home despite their fugitive status.  She speaks to Kira of leaving her to Cal while she searches for Mrs. S.  Cal, at last, manages to extract a bit of information about the people after Sarah.  He has come to learn that she is on the run from Dyad.

Benjamin Kertland enters his car only to find Siobhan in the backseat waiting for him.  The man’s concern for her seems genuine especially since he has no knowledge of her hand at the demise of the Birdwatchers.  Siobhan, however, already knew that Benjamin is innocent of the betrayal done to her.  She has come to him to ask for new papers that would allow her entry to London for she is in search of someone.  Benjamin, however, correctly guesses the person she wants to contact, and informs her that Carlton is in town.  Siobhan arrives at a bar, finds Carlton, and rekindles the passion they have for each other.  Later, she learns that the man had come after hearing of Brenda’s betrayal.  Mrs. S wants information from Carlton, but all he can provide is Kassov, the ferryman.  Mrs. S tells him of her knowledge of the true nature of the orphan he had asked her to put in the black in the hope that Carlton would divulge more information, but the man swears to know nothing else.

Detective Art Bell continues his surveillance of the Proletheans unaware of their cognizance of his lurking.  Henrik Johanssen assures his wife, Bonnie, of their safety, since the woman has become on edge after the arrival of Helena.  Helena wakes without a recollection of what had been done to her other than remembering being surrounded by people.  Gracie later arrives with a fresh replacement of linen and pillow, and attacks Helena in her sleep.  The vicious clone struggles and protests, but Gracie continues to suffocate her with the pillow.  Soon, Helena’s resistance dies down and she lays motionless on her bed.  Gracie makes her way to the door triumphant at eradicating the clone only to learn that it was all an act.  Helena attacks her from behind and makes her escape.  She stumbles into a lab and begins to remember bits and pieces of what had transpired in it.  She remembers lying on a table where an instrument is inserted in her sexual organ.  The memory of her violation fills her with rage, but she escapes instead of attacking her violators.  She comes across Det. Bell, who remains at the periphery of the ranch, startling the detective who encounters her for the first time.  News of her escape ring after Bonnie finds her daughter lying unconscious on the floor.  Prolethean men with their shotguns hasten to catch the escaped clone, but Det. Bell stalls them and forces the men to leave their shotguns.

Alison Hendrix wakes and finds herself retching in an unfamiliar bathroom with one arm in a sling.  She confronts the woman who delivered her luggage for unlawfully detaining her at the Dyad Institute only to learn that she is in rehab.  The arrival of Felix Dawkins relieves her, believing that he has come to take her home.  Alison is surprised to learn that rehab requires consent from the patient, and that her stay at the New Path Wellness Center was her idea.  Alison becomes aware that her memory lapse is the consequence of her heavy inebriation.  Felix talks her into the benefits of staying in rehab, and she agrees to participate in the program.  She returns to her room and finds the last person she wants to see, her husband, Donnie.  She is upset with him for putting her in rehab, and becomes even more upset after learning that Donnie had enlisted the services of a lawyer who had advised that he take full custody of the children should Alison prematurely leave the program.

Sarah Manning sneaks inside the house of Mrs. S only to find Felix already there; she gets an update regarding her fellow clones.  Together they scour through Mrs. S’ documents hoping to find information about her old network.  Felix comes across a picture of Carlton Redding, the man who brought Sarah to Mrs. S.  The man spent fifteen years in prison for smuggling humans when he, in reality, was helping them to go in hiding.  Sarah comes across an old newspaper clipping in Mrs. S’ files that reported the death of six scientists in a lab explosion.  The scientists were working on a project spearheaded by Professors Susan and Ethan Duncan, the adoptive parents of Rachel Duncan.  Sarah recognized the pictures of the professors as those on the Project LEDA photograph she received from her surrogate mother, Amelia.  The discovery reveals that Mrs. S knew of their identities the entire time.  Sarah receives a text message from Rachel informing Daniel of the arrival of her flight in the morning.  She decides to visit the woman’s apartment at the Cameron Arms before returning to Cal and Kira.  Fee volunteers to go with Sarah, but she asks him to bring the news clippings they uncovered to Cosima instead.  They leave the house of Mrs. S unaware that someone else has been hiding in there and listening in to their conversation.  Sarah arrives at the Cameron Arms and calls the concierge on the phone with instructions of preparing the suite to her requirements in order to determine the location and allow her entry to Rachel’s suite.  Sarah sneaks inside Rachel’s urbane suite at Cameron Arms and soon receives a phone call from Felix.  Cosima is with him and she updates her with information she unearthed about the deceased professors.  She learned that they are British geneticists with a molecular biology degree from Cambridge receiving acclaim for the paper they wrote on recombinant DNA and several others until the year 1976 when they disappeared given their highly confidential work on Project LEDA.  Their names only resurfaced after the fatal lab explosion.  Cosima confirms that they were the adoptive parents of Rachel.  Moreover, she learns that it was the professors who had asked Amelia to carry her for them.  In other words, they were supposed to be Sarah’s adoptive parents.  She adds that Rachel was raised self-aware of her nature.  The knowledge of being the only self-aware clone must have given her a profound sense of narcissism.  She supposes that Rachel was raised without any emotional attachments as part of their plan to groom her into the perfect, corporate leader of the Dyad Group, conjecture Sarah rejects after seeing the home video she has of Rachel and her affectionate adoptive parents.

Sarah surveys the apartment and finds men’s clothing in Rachel’s closet, and soon becomes aware of its owner after a bloody, Daniel Rosen, arrives at the apartment.  Daniel calls Dr. Leekie on the phone and informs him that their secret is safe.  He vows to find Sarah and extract from her what she knows.  Sarah makes her way out of the apartment, but Daniel is one-step ahead of her.  He confronts her with his gun aimed at her, but Sarah is aware of her value to the Dyad preventing Daniel from shooting her.  Sarah makes her way to the door without restraint from Daniel when he suddenly knocks her out unconscious.  Cal and Kira wait at the camper for Sarah and resigns to the fact that she will not be coming back that night.  Cal appeases the child only to learn that Kira is not worried about her mother, because she believes that a guardian angel is watching over her.  They are unaware that Daniel has tied her to the shower with plans of torturing her for information.  Though conscious of Daniel’s plan, Sarah continues to antagonize him with her actions and declaration of her knowledge of his status of monitor to Rachel Duncan and his allegiance with Dr. Leekie.  Daniel remains unperturbed causing Sarah to lose courage and to resort to begging, but Daniel is now acting of his own accord spiteful for the pain she caused him.  Daniel cuts through Sarah’s ear causing her to scream in pain when music suddenly plays; he leaves to check what had caused it. Sarah soon hears struggling in the living room and sees Daniel choking on his own blood with a bloody Helena standing over him.  Helena approaches her slowly and shushes her frightened twin sister whom she followed from Mrs. S’ house.  Sarah’s terror comes from the existence of Helena despite the knowledge of having shot her dead.  Helena, however, has not come to harm Sarah.  In fact, she has come to save her and to seek her help.  She informs Sarah of her marriage and her belief that the Proletheans had taken something inside of her.  Helena is right for Henrik Johanssen shows his wife and Mark Rollins the beginning of the mitotic cell division of Helena’s fertilized egg.


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Monday, June 15, 2015

Mingling Its Own Nature With It – Orphan Black Episode Summary 2.3

Henrik Johanssen marries Helena
Orphan Black Episode 3 Season 2 Synopsis: Sarah Manning finds an empty cabin where she, Kira, and Felix Dawkins can stay the night.  Felix soon learns that the owner of the cabin is one of Sarah’s marks who also happens to be Kira’s father, because he finds himself an interloper, Fee decides to return to the city to help another friend in need, Alison Hendrix.  Alison’s recent discovery of her husband, Donnie, as her monitor, has brought her in a downward spiral towards alcoholism.  Meanwhile, Cosima Niehaus has learned the death of the first clone to suffer the same illness she has.

Mingling Its Own Nature with It Episode Summary: Daniel Rosen watches as the Proletheans burn to the ground the deceased Birdwatchers and their hideout.  Meanwhile, Sarah Manning and Felix Dawkins find a way to procure food for Kira.  It proved to be a challenge after Sarah threw away Felix’ visa card to prevent anyone from uncovering his or her whereabouts.  Kira pockets a snack in her coat distracting the polite owner of the convenience store from the real theft of goods by Felix. Continue reading...

Sarah finds an empty cabin in the woods and breaks inside that they may stay there for a while.  Unfortunately, a police officer has found the truck they abandoned on the road near the woods.  Although the plates have been removed, the police officer found the VIN to identify its owner.  Later that night, the owner of the cabin enters his house only to find intruders.  He prepares to attack Felix when Sarah calls the cabin owner by his name.  Cal, the owner of the cabin is the man from whom Sarah stole ten grand and a car, and he is livid at the sight of her.  He orders them to leave, but reconsiders when Kira appears and shrewdly identifies him as her father.  The question shocked everyone for no one knew the truth but Sarah.  Cal is indeed Kira’s father, and he hesitantly offers them a place to stay for the night.  He remains distrustful of Sarah.

Sarah apologizes to her daughter for her dishonesty and her decision to leave her to Mrs. S, while she struggles to find a better life for her and Kira.  She has come to realize that Kira does need to learn the identity of her father.  Cal is an engineer that designed the micro-optics for the mini drone pollinators for areas where bee populations have crashed.  He was a partner at a company that manufactured the pollinators until his partners forced him out after they sold the technology to the military, a decision he vehemently opposed for the technology is to going to be used to kill people.  Felix sees Cal as a moralist with money, which made him a perfect mark for Sarah.  Fee is livid with Sarah for her deception after realizing that his best friend had intended to bring them to the cabin of Kira’s father despite the pretense of finding a stranger’s empty cabin.  Felix finds himself the third wheel, one that does not belong with the reunited family.  He decides to leave and to help the other friend in need, Alison Hendrix.

Sarah and Kira stay with Cal at his cabin where Sarah confesses to have taken all his bank codes and passwords, and was planning to steal everything he had from the sale of his company, but decided against it.  She confesses that she is no longer the hustler she used to be, but admits that she continues to be in trouble probably in much more trouble than before. Tom, a friend of Cal’s, the local police officer who found the abandoned truck drops by his cabin to inform him of the shoplifting and the abandoned truck, and to ask him if he had seen any strangers as of late.  The owner of the convenience store identified the culprits as a new waver man and a woman with her young daughter.  The sight of a candy wrapper makes Tom suspicious of Cal, but their friendship made the police officer continue to trust him.  Sarah prepares to leave after the guilt of having put Cal in a position that forced him to lie to a police officer.  Cal convinces her to stay, and the two rekindles the passion they have for each other.  Unbeknownst to Sarah, Daniel has arrived in town, and has assumed the identity of a Detective Peter White looking for a little girl in a supposed custody case.  The convenience store owner relays the incident the previous day after identifying the picture the detective showed him of Kira.  Tom pulls over the supposed Det. White after learning that the man has been asking questions around town, and informs him that the police would already have the people he is looking for in custody if they are still in town.  Det. White informs the police officer of his intention to leave town, but goes to Cal’s cabin instead.  He finds Kira feeding the chicken, grabs her, and points a gun at Sarah as she comes to her rescue.  Daniel sees Cal and aims the gun at him, but Sarah manages to push Daniel’s hand away keeping him from being shot and giving Kira time to run towards Cal.  Tom arrives in his police car, but Daniel shoots him several times and kills him.  Cal manages to hide and to get a shotgun from his cabin, but Daniel uses Sarah as a human shield and forces her to drive away with him.  Daniel finds the picture of the two scientists from Project LEDA in Sarah’s person, but the young woman refuses to tell him where he got it.  He calls his superior to report having Sarah in his custody, but not Kira, and he reports the photo he found in Sarah’s possession.  Sarah threatens Daniel harm if he lays a hand on her daughter, but her threats have no effect on him.  They, however, meet an accident as a truck hits them on the side where Daniel sits.

Detective Angela DeAngelis arrives at suspended Detective Art Bell’s apartment to inform him of the disappearance of Sarah Manning’s Shakira-haired look alike.  The news of Det. DeAngelis pursuing the case infuriates Det. Bell that he threatens to inform her superior, but his threat is weaker than the detective’s resolve to bring justice to their deceased colleague, Detective Beth Childs.  She is unaware that the look alike is Helena, and that the Proletheans had taken her, but Det. Bell is fully aware.  He makes his way to the ranch of the Proletheans, and begins surreptitiously taking pictures of the cult members.  He sees Henrik Johanssen speaking with his daughter, Gracie, unaware of their conversation.  Henrik speaks to his daughter about her aversion to Helena, and sees her dislike of the clone as the result of fear.  He believes that Gracie is having doubts about her faith, but the young woman disagrees of her father’s assessment of her disapproval.  Henrik insists that Helena does have a soul, and that she is going to be part of their family.  The following day, Helena wakes to find herself in a white wedding dress surrounded by Proletheans in wedding attire.  Henrik speaks to his congregation about God’s love toward Helena despite her being created by men who created things in the name of science instead of God.  Henrik’s wife binds her husband and Helena in matrimony, and Henrik prays to God to reclaim Helena from eternal damnation.  He declares the Proletheans as God’s instruments in the war for creation.  The Proletheans applaud the newlyweds and Henrik carries Helena to the barn soon after.

Delphine Cormier shows a video diary from Jennifer Fitzsimmons, another clone suffering from the same illness that Cosima Niehaus has.  According to Delphine, Jennifer is the first to show symptoms, six months before Katja Obinger.  The young woman had recently died from the disease Cosima is trying to cure.  She watches hours and hours of the video and sees Jennifer’s disease eat away the vibrant, young swim coach despite treatments from the Dyad Institute.  Cosima and Delphine perform an autopsy on the corpse of Jennifer Fitzsimmons.  Cosima supposes that the disease might be autoimmune, and Delphine observes that the cancer cells are more pronounced and more mature on the uterine wall indicating that the cancer originated in the uterus.  Moreover, it may be the cause of the deceased clone’s infertility.  A call from a distressed Alison interrupts the autopsy.  Alison informs her that another monitor has approached her and she speculates that the institute has uncovered her knowledge of the identity of her monitor; she warns her about trusting Delphine.  Cosima advises Alison to continue with the pretense of ignorance with Donnie, and wishes her luck on her play.

Alison is in need of support for her preoccupation affects her performance at the dress rehearsal, and the appearance of Det. DeAngelis pretending to be a ditsy suburban housewife adds to her anxiety.  She makes her way to the theater where Angie once again pretends to bump into her, but soon learns that Angie is a police officer and not a monitor.  The detective tries to extract information from Alison about the other clones, but gets nothing from Alison other than an order to stay away from her.  Alison takes medication with copious amounts of alcohol in order to suppress her anxiety making her heavily intoxicated and unfocused.  She tries to stay on her feet, but the alcohol has overcome her enough that she falls off the stage.


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Sunday, May 31, 2015

Governed by Sound Reason and True Religion – Orphan Black Episode Summary 2.2

Sarah Manning meets Siobhan
Orphan Black Episode 2 Season 2 Synopsis: A call from Kira leads Sarah Manning to her daughter and Siobhan only to learn that betrayal is afoot.  Alison Hendrix stumbles upon text messages on her husband’s phone leading her to believe that he is truly her monitor.  Detective Angela DeAngelis learns of a Jane Doe at the hospital that resembles Sarah Manning among others and sets out to speak to her, but the Proletheans have gotten to her before she did.

Governed by Sound Reason and True Religion Episode Summary: Felix Dawkins receives a call from Kira just as Sarah Manning and Detective Art Bell are discussing the Proletheans, the people who abducted the child.  Regrettably, the man at her charge catches her on the phone before she could provide clues to her whereabouts.  Fortunately, the caller ID revealed the telephone number of a motel in Bridgeleigh County.  Felix supposes the phone call to be a trap and argues against Sarah and Detective Bell rushing to the motel to retrieve the kidnapped child.  Sarah could not bear not to take the chance, and Detective Bell is confident in the protection he can provide her.  Felix acquiesces to their plan, but gives Sarah one of the new clone phones that they may communicate without fear of being tracked.  Sarah is grateful to her best friend, and promises to leave for Costa Rica as soon as she is reunited with Kira.  Felix, however, has grown tired of the empty promises of a peaceful life in Costa Rica.  He expresses his frustration, but Sarah begs him to keep their dream alive.Continue reading...

Sarah and Detective Bell arrive at the Green Acres Motel, but they are an hour too late.  The information Detective Bell received from the hotel clerk did not mention Siobhan for Kira was only in the company of a man.  They enter their motel room and Sarah finds Kira’s drawing under a blanket confirming her presence at the motel.  It seems that they are not the only ones looking for the child, because Daniel Rosen has arrived as well.  Detective Bell risks his job to prevent him from seeing Sarah.  With Daniel’s back turned, Sarah manages to follow the trail of clothes Kira left for her.  The trail led to the laundry room whose backdoor led to a garage where a car with the trunk open and the engine running sits.  The man who was with Kira forces Sarah into the trunk of the car with a promise of bringing her to the child.  The man stops at a road surrounded by woodland and helps Sarah out of the trunk, but she attacks him.  Imagine her surprise when Mrs. S arrives to placate her.  Siobhan had set up an airlock after learning that Kira had contacted her mother knowing very well that Sarah would come to the child’s rescue bringing all her troubles with her.  The deception through the orchestrated kidnapping causes Sarah to suspect Mrs. S, but the woman asserts that she has always been on her side.  On the long hike to her hideout, Mrs. S confesses to have feigned the abduction to confuse those involved that she may bring Kira to safety.  They arrive at the hideout of the Birdwatchers, a place Sarah remembers from her childhood.  She soon is reunited with Kira.  Mrs. S reminds her that they landed at this hideout following their escape from the UK, and that the Birdwatchers is one again helping them disappear.  Sarah remembers the woman who received them as Brenda, but only vaguely recalls her son, Barry.  After spending some time reminiscing childhood memories of her stay at the Birdwatchers, Sarah confronts Mrs. S of her plans for Kira.  Mrs. S has set in motion an escape that will bring her and Kira to London.  However, Sarah and Fee are not part of that escape.  They are to stay with the Birdwatchers until Mrs. S has guaranteed the child’s safety.  Sarah is livid at Mrs. S’ plan that will keep her away from her child, but the woman argues that her care of Kira has always been bulletproof.  Moreover, Sarah’s lack of a plan only endangers the child.  Sarah shows Mrs. S a picture of the two scientists of Project LEDA as a means to oppose her claim, but Mrs. S feigns ignorance.  Sarah’s suspicion stems from Amelia’s warning regarding Mrs. S.  She also confides the manner by which and by whose hands it is that took Amelia’s life.  In her dying moment, Amelia associated Mrs. S with Project LEDA.  Mrs. S stands by her claim of ignorance of Project LEDA.  Later that night, Brenda prepares a nice meal for them and a conversation that revealed some of Siobhan’s past.  Siobhan used to run weapons to finance freedom.  They were all involved in a cause so dangerous.  In fact, their cause cost the life of Brenda’s husband, Jamie.  Siobhan has full understanding of the price of a desire to right some wrongs.  A call from their next driver interrupts their conversation; one Barry needs to take away from their earshot.  Siobhan and Brenda explain that the process ensures that none of them knows the details should their enemies find and coerce them to divulge the escapee’s whereabouts.  Sarah brings Kira to her room that she may extract some information from the child.  Kira asks about the picture she showed to Mrs. S and reveals that the woman has seen it when she snooped at Amelia’s things.  Mother and daughter agree that the two of them must escape the Birdwatchers including Mrs. S.  Barry returns to the dinner table and informs them that their departure is postponed, but says nothing of the reason behind the delay.  Mrs. S becomes suspicious of her friends.  She is, however, unaware that Sarah and Kira have snuck out of the house, while she is persuading her friends to allow her to speak to the driver.  Barry rejects her request despite the valid concerns she presented.  Brenda offers to make the call, but Mrs. S insists on making the call herself.  The sound of a struggling engine interrupts their argument and causes Barry to reach for his shotgun.  Barry rushes out the door and Siobhan prepares to follow, but Brenda points a gun at her.  Brenda makes the mistake of coming too close to Siobhan allowing her to attack and to restrain her with a steak fork and knife through her hands.  Meanwhile, Barry points his shotgun at Sarah demanding that she alight the vehicle with threats to Kira’s safety if she refuses his command.  Sarah refuses causing Barry to break the driver door’s window and to attack her, but Siobhan arrives and shoots him in the head with her rifle.  Mrs. S allows Sarah to escape with Kira.  Siobhan returns to the dining room to make sense of her friends’ betrayal.  Money from the Prolethean’s spurred Brenda’s betrayal.  The woman has no sympathy for the cursed children that Siobhan reveals to have come from Project LEDA, a project of which Brenda has no knowledge.  This relieves Siobhan who then shoots her pointblank.

Mark Rollins is back at the farm of the Proletheans and receives approbation for saving Helena.  He learns from Pastor Henrik Johanssen that Helena is the twin sister of the one that could bear a child.  Pastor Johanssen wants Mark’s help to get Helena out of the hospital.  Meanwhile, Detective Angela DeAngelis arrives at Detective Art Bell’s apartment to speak to him about the rumors of his impending suspension.  Art remains reticent, but finally reveals the encounter with Daniel Rosen, the man lobbying for his suspension.  Angela feels sympathy for Art and shares with him the information from Carp, the patrol person.  Carp had informed Angela of the weirdest Jane Doe in the hospital and sent her a photo of a woman that resembled their former colleague, the late Detective Beth Childs.  Angie finds that this young woman must be the fifth of these women.  Art urges Angie to drop the matter entirely, but the woman is determined to seek justice for Beth.  Detective DeAngelis arrives at the hospital looking for Helena, but she is no longer there.  Mark has beaten her to Helena and has managed to sneak her out of the hospital.  Pastor Johanssen’s daughter, Gracie, disapproves of Helena, but she hides her discontentment from her family and goes about her duty of feeding the clone.  She arrives at her room and finds Tomas in an act of self-flagellation.  Tomas is grateful to Pastor Johanssen’s family for his and Helena’s rescue, but his adoration of Helena has disappeared.  He now finds her an abomination, and the pastor’s exultation at learning of the abnormality that saved her life only added to his disgust.  Helena was shot through the chest, but lived only because her heart rests behind her right breastbone instead of her left.  In fact, all her internal organs are reversed.  Tomas is now certain that her abnormalities are the mark of corruption, an affront on creation, but Pastor Johanssen disagrees with him.  The pastor believes that Helena is God’s work.  Nonetheless, he offers him a place in his ranch.  Later, he speaks to Tomas once again to ascertain his estimation of Helena and learns that he is resolute in his belief that the clone is an abomination.  Moreover, he finds that any child of hers would be a monster.  Pastor Johanssen with the help of Mark kills Tomas.

Alison Hendrix is perturbed at the funeral of Aynsley Norris as some of the deceased friends cause her discomfiture with their gossiping.  News of her affair with Aynsley’s husband, Chad, has spread like wildfire resulting in the community’s unwelcome reception of her.  Fortunately, she has the support of her husband, Donnie Hendrix, and Sarah Stubbs, her friend at the community theater.  A text message on Donnie’s cellphone, however, revealed that her husband is truly her monitor.  The message orders Donnie to placate her wife.  Alison says nothing of the discovery, but it did change her mood and it preoccupied her so that it began to affect her performance during rehearsals.  Alexander, the director, takes the opportunity to make a pass at Alison, but Felix arrives fortuitously.  Alison introduces him as her acting coach and speaks to him privately about the discovery she unearthed.  Felix refuses to believe Alison’s inference from the vague text messages on Donnie’s phone, but Alison is certain of her belief.  Alison confides to him the details of Aynsley’s death including her involvement.  Therefore, it is revealed that her concern that consumed her thoughts is her guilt on the senseless death of Aynsley for it has surfaced that she was not her monitor after all.  Felix suggests confirming Donnie as her monitor.  They set out a plan to feed Donnie information that would trigger him to act as a monitor should.  Alison speaks on the phone with Felix feigning a conversation where she vehemently refuses to meet with Sarah, but ends up yielding to the request.  She leaves for the cemetery and stands by the grave of Aynsley Norris.  Donnie follows her and speaks to Dr. Leekie on the phone after the doctor instructed him to call if Alison meets Sarah.  Sarah Stubbs arrives and soon notices Donnie hiding behind a tree.  Donnie ducks behind a tombstone making Sarah and Alison more suspicious of his actions.  Dr. Leekie knows very well that Donnie has been set up, but leaves the poor man to his own devices.  Alison confronts her husband and allows him to fumble for an excuse, but seeing him spy on her already confirmed her suspicion.  She calls Felix to inform him that Donnie took their bait inadvertently revealing himself as her monitor.  She has called to ask him to rescue her from her deceitful husband before she snaps, but Felix is already ready to leave town with Sarah and Kira to an undetermined destination.  Sarah arrives with Kira prompting Felix to end his phone conversation with the troubled Alison Hendrix.  His parting advice is for Alison to call Cosima and to continue to feign ignorance of her discovery.  With no one to turn to, Alison resorts to pills and alcohol.

Cosima Niehaus faces Dr. Aldous Leekie for accusations of colluding with Sarah that resulted in the battery of Rachel Duncan.  Delphine Cormier comes to her defense with a contention that Dr. Leekie was fooled as well; it was his pass card that Sarah used to enter his office.  However, Dr. Leekie has not called Cosima to admonish her.  He had summoned Cosima to persuade her into working at Dyad with the notion that her joining the institute might benefit Sarah.  In fact, Dr. Leekie has agreed to Sarah’s request to establish a lab for Cosima.  He brings her to the old wing where she is to work and he does not deny the fact that the organizational structure of the Dyad Institute promotes compartmentalization of departments to ensure that employees do not exactly know the nature of the their projects.   He, however, claims that this will not be the case for Cosima for she will be working on herself.  The lab is not what she expected for it currently is nothing but a storage room for old equipment.  Dr. Leekie and Delphine persuade her to look past the room’s current incarnation and tell her one of the progressive projects they have just accomplished.  Dr. Leekie encourages her to make a list of the things she would need for her lab.  Cosima agrees to join Dyad, and soon comes face-to-face with Rachel Duncan.  Rachel shares with her the results of blood tests she does not recall taking, and also some of Katja Obinger’s data.  The cause of Katja’s death remains undiagnosed.  Cosima’s task is to help Dyad eliminate genetic predisposition through her research of the fatal condition she shares with Katja.  Cosima asks for the original genome, but Rachel refuses to submit to her request.  She only provides her with an assertion of the robustness of the original genome and maintains the belief that the issues stem from the cloning procedure.  Rachel also tasks Cosima to review Sarah Manning’s genome to determine the reason for her ability to bear child.


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Monday, May 25, 2015

Nature Under Constraint and Vexed – Orphan Black Episode Summary 2.1

Sarah Manning attacks Rachel Duncan
Orphan Black Episode 1 Season 2 Synopsis: Sarah Manning seeks the help of her friends to retrieve her abducted daughter, Kira.  She goes to great lengths to confront Rachel Duncan, who claimed responsibility for the abduction.  Meanwhile, Alison Hendrix takes steps to regain normalcy after signing the contract with the Dyad Institute.  Although Alison continues to provide help to Sarah in any way she can, she focuses her energy on the musical production where she is the star.

Nature Under Constraint and Vexed Episode Summary: A frenetic Sarah Manning calls her best friend, Felix Dawkins, to inform him of Kira and Mrs. S’ abduction.  Regrettably, her best friend and the other clones are currently unreachable.  She finds refuge in an empty diner and contemplates seeking the help of Paul Dierden, but learns that he too is unavailable.  However, Sarah receives a call from Paul immediately after leaving him a voicemail, but the person on the other line is Rachel Duncan.  Rachel extorts her surrender in exchange for Kira and Mrs. S.  She hangs up after Sarah refuses to accede to her demand.  Soon after, two men arrive at the diner and accost her to leave with them.  The sympathetic owner of the diner senses trouble and pulls out his shotgun in aide of Sarah.  She prepares to leave, but one of the men offers to take her to Kira.  This man, however, shoots the diner owner in the head causing the corpse to shoot the other thug accidentally.  Sarah manages to run away in the commotion.  She was fortunate enough to find a hollow wall at the squalid bathroom that she dug open allowing for her escape.Continue reading...

Sarah Manning arrives at a gay club and finds a heavily intoxicated Felix in the company of five men.  News of the abduction of Kira and Mrs. S somewhat brought him out of his intoxication.  Sarah describes the sight of Mrs. S’ house and of her purse and truck still being there leading to her conclusion of their abduction.  Fee offers the possibility of Helena taking them, but Sarah with much conviction informs him that it could not be the doing of the insane clone.  Sarah receives a call from Paul, which alarms Fee after learning that the burner phones of the clones have been disconnected except hers.  Sarah demands to speak to Mrs. S, but Paul’s guard dismisses that request.  She instead offers to meet with him alone.  She then disposes of the burner phone and steals a clubber’s phone.  Later, Felix arrives at the house of Alison Hendrix in the wee hours of the morning.  She is in disbelief at the news of Kira’s kidnapping especially after signing the contract that states a code of conduct between clones and the Dyad Institute.  Regrettably, Sarah did not sign the contract.  Felix, still suffering from intoxication, has come to ask Alison for a gun.  Alison is hesitant to help them as she tries to regain normalcy.  She informs Felix of staying sober and of having enlisted in a musical production.  Nonetheless, Alison agrees to help them procure an unregistered firearm with instructions for Sarah to meet her at the Glendale Community Theater in the afternoon.

Delphine Cormier takes blood samples from Cosima Niehaus and urges her to come to the Dyad event and speak to Dr. Aldous Leekie.  She argues that Cosima needs the Dyad to help assess her illness.  Cosima rejects her advice and expressly tells Delphine not to send her blood samples to Dyad.  Moreover, she is to keep their knowledge of the patent secret.  Cosima is going to do research on her own.  Delphine agrees to her wishes.  The following morning, Paul waits at the agreed meeting place after receiving a call with instructions from Sarah.  A skateboarder approaches him and hands him a phone after receiving payment.  Sarah calls Paul, who relays Rachel’s message of leaving on a private plane with Kira the following morning.  He also informs her that Rachel will be at a big event at the Dyad.  He warns her about Rachel’s handler, Daniel Rosen, who has been tasked to come after her.  True enough, Daniel and his thugs arrive at the park where Sarah is, and accost a skateboarder resembling Sarah.  She manages to escape without being seen allowing her to take a bus to safety.  Sarah borrows a boy’s cellphone and speaks to Cosima about attending the Dyad event.  She learns that Delphine has been persuading Cosima to attend it.  Meanwhile, Cosima asks her friend, Scott, to evaluate the profile of one of the subjects that exhibited symptoms of an illness.  Scott recognized the subject as the one with the strange synthetic sequence, the one whom Cosima asked him to purge its data.  Cosima offers to send a new blood sample to him.

Delphine arrives at the Dyad Institute; she is escorted immediately to Dr. Leekie’s office.  Dr. Leekie has become impatient of her and has suspicions of Delphine’s betrayal.  He demands her delivery of Cosima to the Dyad Institute that night and the clone’s agreement to work there full-time.  Delphine agrees to his wishes and shares that the clone, 324B21, has exhibited the respiratory symptoms of the other two demised clones.  Moreover, she hands Dr. Leekie a sample of Cosima’s blood despite her promise not to share it with Dyad.  Later, Rachel arrives at his office to inform him of her need for it that evening.  She is to discuss business with the Koreans.  She then tells Paul that they are to leave for Taiwan on Tuesday.  Rachel and Dr. Leekie discuss the abduction of Sarah’s family after Paul has left the room.  Dr. Leekie is against the abduction and the measures Rachel has taken to recover Sarah.

Alison meets Ramon at the parking lot of an Econo-Mart.  The young clerk offers her illegal drugs found at the trunk of his car, but soon learns that Alison has come to purchase a gun.  Alison with the newly purchased unregistered gun in her bag arrives at the Glendale Community Theater for rehearsals.  The director gathers his troupe and speaks of the heartbreak of losing Aynsley, but also speaks of moving on.  He announces of another troupe member playing the role of Laura, alarming Alison, who was to play the part.  Alison soon learns that she has been chosen to play the lead role, Sheila, taking over the part that Aynsley left vacant.  The cast take their places on the stage to rehearse the scene where they help Sheila clean up the mess from an unfortunate death.  The troupe sings and dances unaware that two police detectives are lurking outside surveying Alison.  Detective Art Bell and Detective Angela DeAngelis discuss the peculiarity of the normalcy of Alison Hendrix’ life compared to her two look-alikes and Sarah Manning, who was released from custody while on the verge of her confession.  They, however, find Sarah approaching the Glendale Community Theater and cuff her.  Alison, who has stepped out to hand Sarah the gun, witnesses the arrest without being seen.  Sarah entreats Det. Bell and speaks about having witnessed a murder at a diner, which the detective recognizes as the two bodies his colleagues were working on that morning.  Sarah informs them that the men behind the murder are the same men behind her release.  Det. Bell speaks to Det. DeAngelis and persuades her to verify Sarah’s story.  Sarah informs Art of the abduction of her daughter, while Det. DeAngelis is at the diner speaking with their colleagues.  Art offers to send an AMBER alert, but Sarah tells him that it will not make a difference for the people who took her daughter are powerful.  She begs Art to let her go, while Art urges her to tell him the truth about her situation.  Sarah refuses to involve him and warns him against Angie.  Det. DeAngelis returns after learning that the Feds have taken over the case.  She remains suspicious of Sarah’s story despite her colleagues’ statement of a possible eyewitness given the tea left on the table and the hole this person made that allowed her escape.  Art asks the reluctant Angie to remove the handcuffs on Sarah and argues that they have made an illegal arrest.

Sarah leaves the police detectives and returns to Fee’s apartment with plans to accede to Rachel’s request.  Cosima offers to attend the Dyad event and demand the release of Kira and Mrs. S, a plan both Felix and Sarah are certain will not work.  They soon hear a knock on the door from a delivery boy named Ramon.  Felix recognizes the name as Alison’s gun dealer and receives a bouquet of flowers from the young man.  The gun, Sarah, is so anxious to receive is hidden inside the bouquet of flowers.  Alison apologizes for not being able to deliver it in person due to her preoccupation with the musical production.  Although she agrees to Sarah taking her child back, Alison refuses to be part of any plan to take on the Dyad that she may claim plausible deniability.  She is unaware that Sarah has come up with a plan that will require her indirect involvement.

Sarah calls Paul hoping to speak to Rachel, but Daniel speaks in her behalf.  She agrees to meet Rachel face-to-face on a meeting place of her choosing.  Alison arrives at Sarah Stubbs at 9pm for her fitting just as she had mentioned it to the clones when men confront and struggle to kidnap her.  Alison puts up a fight, but fails.  She finds herself inside a black SUV where Daniel sits waiting for her.  Alison supposes that the men who attacked her are from the Dyad Institute and demands to speak to Dr. Leekie.  Daniel recognizes Sarah’s chicanery and immediately releases Alison.  Daniel’s absence at the Dyad Institute gives Sarah the opportunity to confront Rachel.  Sarah arrives at the event dressed as Cosima and makes her way to follow Paul, but Delphine sees her and mistakes her as Cosima.  She introduces her to Dr. Leekie, who is pleased to see her at the event.  Cosima makes it clear that she is not going to sign her contract, but makes demands to have her own lab after Dr. Leekie joked of giving her what she wants just to persuade her to sign.  A call asking Dr. Leekie to address the guests interrupts their awkward conversation.  A hug from Sarah posing as Cosima surprises Dr. Leekie unaware that the young woman has done so to pinch his access card.  Dr. Leekie leaves allowing Delphine to confront Cosima whom she identified as truly Sarah.  Delphine disapproves of her assumption of Cosima’s identity, but Sarah manages to persuade her to help her find Rachel.  Delphine has not met Rachel, but she figures that she is at Dr. Leekie’s office to discuss business with some serious investors.  Sarah succeeds in sneaking into Leekie’s wing using his swipe card just as he is on the podium giving a speech about the Dyad Institute and its role in the age of biotechnology.  Meanwhile, Rachel speaks to the Koreans about the success of the Dyad Institute in lobbying for the legal status of natural versus synthetic DNA that allows them to proceed with the next issue of patent claims.  The Koreans leave pleased with the news from Rachel.  Sarah arrives after seeing Rachel in Dr. Leekie’s office alone.  Rachel seems to be expecting her.  She relays having found Siobhan’s house overturned with her and Kira gone by the time her people arrived.  Rachel confesses to have lied to get Sarah at the Dyad Institute, but swears not having Kira and Siobhan.  Rachel is certain that Sarah will not shoot her, but her certainty falters when the volatile clone shoots an object behind her.  She vows not having Kira and speaks of other forces vying for their fate, and offers to retrieve Kira together.  Unfortunately, her offer only angered Sarah, who attacks her brutally leaving her unconscious on the floor.  Paul arrives to stop her, and he claims to have only learned the truth recently.  He verifies Rachel’s story of her claiming responsibility for the abduction in order to lure Sarah to the Dyad Institute.  Paul prepares to restrain Sarah when she hits him in the face surprising Paul for the man has agreed to let her go all along.

Detective Bell arrives at his apartment only to find Sarah in the hallway waiting for him.  She has come there for refuge.  Sarah finds that Art continues to investigate the case that started it all, the shooting of Maggie Chen, despite orders not to pursue it.  She informs him that the Dyad people are not the ones responsible for her daughter’s kidnapping, but is surprised to learn that Art already knew this.  Art learned from the Feds that the cowboy that was killed accidentally from the shotgun blast was a religious extremist linked to Maggie Chen.  These religious extremists are called Prolethean.  Sarah now understands that Helena’s people are behind her child’s abduction.  Mention of Helena piqued Art’s interest and he urges Sarah to tell him who she is despite the young woman’s advice against knowing the truth.  Meanwhile, a blood-soaked and seriously wounded Helena walks to a hospital.  The surviving cowboy at the diner stands at the hallway of the hospital and watches as a trauma team attends to Helena.  Meanwhile, a man brushes Kira’s hair and takes a picture of her.


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Sunday, May 17, 2015

Episode 10 Season 2 – The Tudors Episode Summary 2.10

The execution of Anne Boleyn
The Tudors Episode 10 Season 2 Synopsis: Anne Boleyn prepares for her death and learns that the execution has been postponed.  She loses her resolve at the thought of waiting another day for her death, but finds it again at the hour of death.  Meanwhile, King Henry VIII announces his intention to marry Lady Jane Seymour.

The Tudors Episode Summary Episode 10 Season 2: On May 18, 1536, Anne Boleyn receives word from the Constable, Master Kingston, that King Henry VIII has decreed Anne to suffer death at nine o’clock of that day by decapitation instead of by burning, and has acceded to her request to use the services of the Executioner of Calais.  Anne Boleyn acquiesces to the King’s wishes and accepts her unfortunate fate with contentment.Continue reading...

As per Anne Boleyn’s request, Archbishop Cranmer arrives to hear her last confession and to administer Holy Communion.  He is relieved to hear that the deposed Queen has become at peace with her impending execution, but regrets having to inform her that her marriage to the King has been declared null and void.  The illegitimacy of her marriage was based on her forbidden degree of affinity to another woman with whom the King had carnal relations.  Most hurtful is the knowledge that Princess Elizabeth is to be declared a bastard.  Archbishop Cranmer vows to use his power to protect and support Princess Elizabeth ensuring that she does not fall out of favor with the King.  Anne makes her confession and requests for the Constable to remain and hear it too.  She vows innocence and fidelity towards her husband.  Anne’s only sin against her husband, King Henry VIII, is her occasional thoughts of jealousy.  Moreover, she confesses the desire to offer her life for those unjustly condemned because of her.  She willingly accepts her death sentence as it pleases the King, but declares of leading an endless life in peace.  Archbishop Cranmer asks Master Kingston to report Anne Boleyn’s true and last confession for the world to know.  Her acquiescence falters as soon as the Constable leaves.  Anne pleadingly asks Archbishop Cranmer the possibility of an intervention from the evangelical bishops they put in place.  Anne asks for forgiveness after realizing the futility of such a request.

Meanwhile, King Henry VIII writes a letter to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V offering an olive branch and proposes working together to increase trade between their realms.  Moreover, he recommends joining forces against the King of France and looks forward to the prospect of change.  It seems that favor has fallen on Lady Mary Tudor.  She looks forward with anticipation the death of Anne Boleyn.  She learns from Ambassador Chapuys that Anne’s sentence came from the notion that her child, Princess Elizabeth, may not have been King Henry VIII’s daughter.  Meanwhile, Jane Seymour, the new woman whom the King plans to marry is admirable.  Ambassador Chapuys is pleased with Jane Seymour not only because of her Roman Catholic faith, but also because of her desire to restore Lady Mary to the succession.  Lady Mary takes comfort in this and in the fact that Princess Elizabeth will be declared a bastard, suffering the same scorn she once received.  In fact, Cromwell has instructed Lady Margaret Bryan, her governess, to keep her out-of-sight of the King.  Moreover, the King ruthlessly orders to use the money from the young princess’ household for her mother’s imprisonment.

Anne Boleyn prepares for her execution, but learns from Master Kingston that the Executioner of Calais has not yet arrived.  King Henry VIII becomes livid at hearing the delay of the execution of his wife.  He orders Thomas Cromwell with threat of death to fetch another axman despite his promise to accede to his wife’s last request, but quickly changes his mind and angrily declares to the earshot of many to postpone his wife’s execution.  Anne is all dressed and ready for her death, but Master Kingston informs her that the executioner has yet to arrive thus postponing her death another day.  She, however, has already prepared herself to die, and pleads the Constable to end her terrifying anticipation.  Regrettably, King Henry VIII has expressed publicly his desire to postpone her execution.  Anne loses her resolve and finds herself pleading for her life with futile thoughts of receiving the King’s mercy.  Her pleas are futile for the King is not even at court to hear it.  King Henry VIII has gone to Wulfhall to see Lady Jane Seymour and more so to inform her father of his intention to marry her.  He makes his intention sound altruistic with mention of his Privy Council’s advice to marry and produce a legitimate heir.  Having received Sir John’s approval, King Henry VIII invites the guests to Hampton Court to witness his betrothal to Lady Jane Seymour.  Lady Jane Seymour speaks to King Henry VIII her desire to reinstate Lady Mary Tudor as his heir apparent.  Henry laughs at her wish seeing her a fool to ask for the advancement of his child instead of their own children, but Lady Jane seeks only the tranquility of the King and his kingdom.

Lord Suffolk arrives at the prison cell of Sir Thomas Boleyn to inform him of his release by order of the King.  He is banished from court along with all his official posts, titles, and privileges.  Thomas Boleyn shows only concern for the preservation of his earldom angering Lord Suffolk at the lack of sympathy for his disgraced children who did nothing but to further the cause of their father.  Thomas Boleyn sees his daughter wave at her as he leaves the Tower of London, but ignores her.

The Executioner of Calais arrives at last.  He gives special instructions to Master Kingston to ensure a clean and merciful execution.  On May 19, 1536, Master Kingston fetches Anne Boleyn from her prison cell and finds her calm, ready, and prepared to meet her death.  He gives her a pouch containing twenty pounds to pay for the headsman and to give alms to the poor.  She walks to the place of execution where both an angry and sympathetic crowd receives her.  She walks up the steps of the platform where the executioner awaits, but asks Master Kingston to give her time to speak her mind before ordering the fatal blow.  Anne Boleyn addresses the crowd expressing her submission to the will of the King through the acceptance of death.  She declares that her death shall atone for her transgressions against King Henry VIII.  She asks the crowd to pray for the King, their Lord, whom she finds to be one of the best princes on the face of the Earth.  Anne Boleyn ends her speech with a declaration of her submission to death with good will and with humility asks pardon from the world.  Master Kingston signals to the executioner who kneels before Anne to ask for her forgiveness.  Anne gladly forgives him and hands his payment.  Before kneeling to her death, she asks the people to pray for her.  Anne kneels and prays to Jesus Christ to receive her soul; the crowd including Lord Suffolk kneels with her.  The executioner hides the sword from Anne then yells for a boy to fetch his sword.  Anne Boleyn looks at the boy addressed and with a swift blow dies.


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