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Showing posts with label Turn. Show all posts
Mary is shown to be reading the names of the codes from Abe's book and their corresponding spies. Caleb and Benjamin are preparing to take their hometown by surprise to save those that are set to spent ten years on the prison ship. Abe returns home to his wife and tells her about how Simcoe used an accomplice to shoot his father. She doesn't believe him and adds that if she went to Hewlett and told him the truth that he would be hung for treason. She accuses him of having an affair since he hasn't made love to her in quite some time so he promptly has sex with her.
A boy who spotted Ben Tallmadge and his men gets back to Simcoe and reports on their oncoming approach. Simcoe has the men currently strung up to rafters cut down so Ben can see his father hung up by the neck. Ben and his men come running up and Simcoe grabs the remaining prisoners and brings them into the church to hold hostage.
Mr. Strong arrives and kisses Anna, who is shocked to learn that her husband didn't die on the prison ship as she was led to believe. Ben and Caleb learn about the gravestones being ripped up. Major Hewlett isn't happy with Simcoe hanging prisoners against his orders. They must now prepare for battle and Hewlett scolds Simcoe for securing the prisoners but not the powder.
Mr. Strong is angry to learn that Anna had to sell the tavern. She tells him they were going to take it anyway. The man she sold it to tells him to take it up to Judge Woodhull. Richard joins Major Hewlett, still wounded but determined to learn what's going on. Ben tells Mr. Strong that Hewlett has them in his site and they must take the church back. Abe speaks up and tells Benjamin that the major isn't firing on the people but on him and that he will never take the garrison but merely get everyone killed. Ben tells Mary he remembers Abe being a much quieter man.
Hewlett is waiting for reinforcements and Simcoe wants to proceed regardless. The Continental Army opens fire and some Redcoats are injured. Simcoe proceeds to have the Redcoats use the prisoners to shield the windows of the church. This causes the Continental Army to hold their fire. Abe warns Benjamin that these actions are clearly from Simcoe and that he will kill all the prisoners, while Hewlett will never surrender. Benjamin thinks Abe will be the perfect man to deliver their terms since Richard is also in the church. Abe tells Ben in a barn that there were no hangings until he showed up. Ben apologises to Anna about lying but says that her husband is alive because his brother is dead. The raid is family business. This gives Abe reason to help out.
Abe approaches the church holding up a white flag. He tells Simcoe and Hewlett that there are between 60 and 100 men. The terms are that they will trade the soldiers for the prisoners in the ship and withdraw from the field. Simcoe grabs Caleb's father and brings him outside the church where he shoots him dead. Caleb tries to run up but Ben tackles him to keep him from doing so. Hewlett has Simcoe restrained and gagged, which has been a long time coming.
Richard suggests that releasing the prisoners might end any further violence and Hewlett seems to consider this. Caleb gets free from Ben and runs up towards the church as the prisoners begin to walk out free and holding Caleb's father. Ben asks Abe to express his thanks to Hewlett and Abe quietly tells him his spy name will now be Culper instead of Culpepper. He has decided to carry on being a spy.
Hewlett spots the reinforcements coming on a ship but it's too late now. Ben embraces his father before departing with his men, along with Mr. Strong. Anna is going to leave with him but ends up jumping out of the boat, deciding to stay in Setauket with Abe, who helps her out of the water.
Major Andre and Rogers are discussing Rogers' insubordination during the last prisoner exchange. Andre tells Rogers the people he commanded have been given a new leader and Rogers says they won't obey anyone but him. Rogers ends up laughing, saying, "What goes up must come down" before leaving.
Abe returns home and finds his codebook missing from his hiding place. He gets to the fireplace and finds Mary burning it. He yells at her that he didn't know Tallmadge was coming. Baker walks in, having heard everything. Ben raises his weapon and pleads with him to not come any closer and just let him leave. Baker says he can't be like Abe and commit treason. Abe shoots Baker when he tries to ready his weapon. Mary then creates a cover story about rebels coming through their farm and Baker dying trying to protect them. She then says that they burned their house down and only took pity on them because of their child, reminding Abe that their baby needs his parents. She says she knows to clean up a mess and has Abe grab their son before taking a candle and setting their home on fire.
It's Spring 1777 in Setauket and Abe picks up some flowers from the marketplace. Anna then sees those flowers left for her, forming a trail. She follows it. Simcoe warns Hewlett that the rebel conspirators are plotting something but he has no proof. Hewlett warns him not to get swept up in gossip. Meanwhile, Anna and Abe have sex in a cellar. Abe wishes he could run away with Anna but he has obligations to his family and both of them have obligations to Washington. Simcoe and Hewlett find a white horse that has somehow managed to injure itself so Hewlett shoots it to put it out of its misery. A vet examines the horse and finds it was poisoned. The toxic fruit was actually intended for Hewlett and came from the Brewster farm (belonging to Caleb).
General Washington, Major Benjamin Tallmadge, and Nathaniel Sackett are being strategic in moving their troops to convince their enemy that their "plan" is working. This is causing the British to move many of their troops to Staten Island.
Mary tends to her home and looks after her son when their British roomer, Mr. Baker, comes inside. She offers to cook something up for him and he offers to leave. She asks why and adds that he's the only one seems to live there now, rather unsubtly expressing her displeasure at Abe's frequent absences. He shares that he was an orphan and it is implied that the two may develop more of a relationship.
Richard Woodhull meets with Simcoe and tries to explain why Brewster (Caleb's father) couldn't have committed any crime, saying he has a "pasied hand." Richard adds that more proof is needed before they go so far as to hang him. They head outside and then Richard is shot from an unknown shooter from afar. Abe tries to help his father while Simcoe sends another soldier off to try to find the shooter. Richard is brought inside, a doctor is called, and the bullet is removed. Richard passes out from the pain. Simcoe shows some wadding apparently used by the shooter, a Bible verse from the book of Judges. Hewlett orders that Simcoe get all the town's weapons collected and their owner's names recorded.
The townspeople turn their weapons in but they are very angry about it. Simcoe overhears Nathaniel Tallmadge being particularly vocal against the rounding up of the weapons and wants a word with him. Simcoe declares he has found a Bible discovered with a page torn from the book of Judges. Hewlett orders that every name on a list that Simcoe has to be arrested and for a gallows to be built. Paine is arrested too, despite being the one who brought forth evidence. Since Richard is still recovering, Abe offers to be the judge, as he has been to law school.
Washington's army is on the move. Ben tells Caleb that the men only need to know what they need to know to keep them out of harm's way and Caleb questions about Anna's still not knowing that her husband is actually alive.
Abe tells Anna that the charges are false and that he is trying to save the people by losing the case so they won't be hanged immediately. Anna tells him he will lose but Abe continues to study. The listed men are arrested late at night, the gallows are built, and Simcoe is shown to be shooting someone.
The trial begins and begins hounding the elderly Mr. Brewster. His aggression towards him garners sympathy from the townsfolk watching (all part of the strategy). Brewster had claimed that the bottle of cyanide must have been planted on his farm by the Redcoats. Simcoe tells Abe he knows he's putting on a show but Abe says this isn't true and carries on with the trial. He dishes out the same harsh treatment towards Nathaniel Tallmadge, who says he swore an oath to never take the life of another man. Abe begins to load Nathaniel's weapon and attempts to get the bullet into the weapon. He's unable to and then Simcoe comes over ready to help. It still won't go in. The reason is that the musket ball won't fit in a Pennsylvania weapon, but is instead like those used by the King's Men. His gun has a grooved barrel that won't hold that musket ball. Nathaniel tells the crowd that the worst form of tyranny is not allowing men to form their own opinions and make up their own mind. He tells Abe off, of course not knowing that Abe is actually on the same side as all of them.
Hewlett later commends Abe for his efforts, saying that his father would be very proud. Hewlett admits that he'd like to hang them but it would be best to show a measure of mercy. He sentences them all to ten years aboard the prison ship. Abe point out that this is still equivalent to a death sentence, considering that the conditions aboard it are dismal but there's nothing else he can do to change Hewlett's mind. He does however announce his mission to catch the true assassin, already knowing that Simcoe and his men were responsible for all of it.
Ben, Caleb, and the other men of the Continental Army are on their way to meet with a pre-traitorous Benedict Arnold. Ben learns of the recent arrests in Setauket and he's not happy about it, deciding to round everyone up and head home to confront this injustice
Mary prepares to put her son Thomas down for a nap. He lifts up a loose board and when Mary comes over, she finds Abe's code book hidden underneath it and begins looking through it.
Turn airs on Sundays on AMC at 9PM.
Abe's headed off to see Cook and comes in to say goodbye to Anna. Things are no less tense between the two and Anna announces she hopes to take her husband and move to Connecticut. She can't help but think how things might have turned out differently between them if Abe hadn't broken their engagement. He says he had obligations to his family and father, whom he never agreed with as Anna point out. Anna wants the truth and Abe says that some things simply aren't meant to be.
An exchange of prisoners takes place between some Redcoats and the rebels. Robert Rogers is lurking in the trees, hoping to take Ben Tallmadge out but Ben isn't there, as Caleb is picking up his brother on his behalf. Unfortunately, he encounters Selah Strong, who tells him Ben's brother Samuel is dead. Anna is told on board the prison ship that her husband is dead and drops the pardon for him in shock. Robert Rogers tries to shoot the pair of them but Caleb has already figured out what's happening and pulls Selah to the ground and another man is shot instead. Rogers remains no less determined to hunt them down after they get away.
Abe meets with Cook and manages to maneuver an invite to a dinner party that will be hosted by Major John Andre. He returns to anna and learns of her husband's apparent death. She wants to come with Abe to the dinner and is set on getting revenge. Abe isn't interested in having her come, believing she will blow the cover off the spy ring in her distressed state. She then goes to Abby to get her to help, even going so far as to pressure her with the fact that she is taking care of Abby's son.
Caleb and Saleh are continuing with their escape through the woods, pursued by Rogers and his men. Simcoe is investigating the conspiracy and asks about Ben and Caleb. Abe arrives at the dinner party where Cook introduces him to Major Andre and there is a tremendous amount of drunk merriment underway. Ben learns the British army needs fuel and a Redcoat asks him to provide some names of people who are undermining their cause, with the intent that they will be killed without a fair trial.
Ben reaches Caleb and Saleh when they are in the midst of a shootout with Rogers and his men. Saleh shares the story of how Samuel died and Ben is furious, saying his brother died like a dog and that now even in death, Rogers has stolen his name just to set a trap for him. "He dies tonight."
Abby is able to maneuver a guard into allowing Anna to come inside the party. Abe is shocked to see her but maintains his composure. Abby is able to tell Abe quietly that Anna has a plan to sneak into Andre's room to access a black book full of information about the war. Abe is determined to stop her so she doesn't end up caught, killed, or worse. He's able to corner her and starts kissing her for the sole purpose of a cover so when they are walked in on, they can justify their being in Andre's room.
The man who interrupts goes downstairs and tells Cook that he wants Abe gone. Cook goes upstairs and tells him to take off but the drunken
Turn airs on Sundays on AMC at 9PM.
Robert Rogers is brought on board the prison ship where Ben Tallmadge's brother Samuel is being kept. The man in charge looks through his records and says that Samuel died of dysentary just before Christmas. Rogers then asks to speak to whomever he talked to most. A man is brought forward and Rogers asks for the man's name and where he's from. The man replies, "Setauket." Jordan then tells Rogers he can tell him who this man is.
Caleb is sitting in a rocking chair and frightens Abe upon his waking. Caleb has brought instructions about his new spy alias, Samuel Culpepper, and gives him a code dictionary for him to use when preparing messages from now on.
There is a queue of people waiting to speak to Justice Woodhull and Major Hewlett about various queries, concerns, and requests. Anna Strong comes forward asking for her husband to be released but Richard denies him parole. Anna is persistent but it's to no avail.
As it turns out, the man Rogers is questioning is Anna's husband, Mr. Strong. Rogers presents him with an opportunity to get back home but only if he is cooperative with him.
A Redcoat visits Anna and presents a birthday present from Major Andre to give to Cicero, Abby's son. The Redcoat leaves and then Abe pays her a visit to tell her he plans to go to New York and sell all of her cauliflower crop. He wants her to go with him and pose as his wife. Cicero discovers a secret note inside his present and gives it to Anna: "Simcoe ALIVE - Returned Setauket this Monday". Anna is visibly shaken and the score become eerie to match her alarm. Anna admits that she lied to Abe, saying that Simcoe had been taken captive and is now free somehow. She had lied to make him stay the course. Abe throws the note into the fire and leaves.
Simcoe arrives back at Setauket and is about to go into Anna's tavern when he is met by another Redcoat that delivers a request from Hewlett that he report back. He shares the news of the secret information being exchanged and that there is a source in Setauket but Hewlett warns him that he cannot use the same tactics he had been using when they first arrived, as they now need to win their hearts and minds.
Mary asks the Redcoat border, Baker, about some silverware and is able to get him to admit that Anna was here in their home and that he had come in one night and "they were here." Mary begins to cry after Baker apologises. Outside, Simcoe is angry at Baker for doing something to upset Mary and demands to know what he said to do so.
Abe meets with Anna again, who tells him that Simcoe had to report to Hewlett first. She tries to tell him she should leave Long Island but Abe won't leave his family. She wants to coordinate a trap for Simcoe with his help. She tells Abe he has never killed anyone and he is not about to start now.
Mary brings her son to visit Richard Woodhull and he asks if he can do anything to help her. She asks for him to grant a pardon for Anna's husband, as she cannot deny the fact that Abe has feelings for Anna. He assures her that Abe loves Mary and she is his wife, not Anna. She asks him again to think about it and bids him goodnight.
It's still night and Simcoe corners Abe and surrounds him with other Redcoats. Simcoe is angry, thinking Abe forced himself on Anna. He viciously kicks him repeatedly until another Redcoat comes running up saying that Abe has been requested to come see his father. Simcoe tells the Redcoats around him, "He struck me first. You all saw it, right?" One replies, "Saw what?"
Caleb and Ben are meeting when Ben gets word that prisoners are being released, including his brother Samuel. Caleb offers to pick Samuel up for him and bring him back to Ben.
Abe is in the courthouse where Abe, Richard, Hewlett, Baker, and other Redcoats are present. Simcoe has also been summoned and says that Abe has assaulted the virtue of a lady (Anna). Baker says that what he saw was not rape and Abe says that what he did was not against her wishes. Simcoe says that he had merely lept to the defence of a lady but perhaps he had acted rashly. He stiffly apologises to Abe and Hewlett tells them to shake hands. Abe walks out and Simcoe follows after him to challenge him to a duel. Abe shakes his hand and accepts the challenge. Hewlett and Richard, having witnessed the handshake, assume that the apology has been accepted.
Simcoe arrives at Anna's tavern, which is filled with singing Redcoats. He asks for a table and then apologises for his tardiness in picking up his laundry. He says that he held on to the promise of the close friendship they had embarked upon while he was held captive. It's astounding how obtuse he is in when it comes to seeing the fact that she is terrified of him. She talks about her husband's imprisonment, and says that she has clung to her honour and asks for his help in safeguarding it. He agrees and says tomorrow at dawn, he intends to revenge it, and gives up the location. He not-so-cryptically says that he will kill Abe.
Anna rushes out to try to warn Abe and is unable to find him, though he learns that Abe had been practicing his shooting, demonstrating his lack of skills at it. She rushes off to tell Judge Woodhull, who informs her that her husband is set to be pardoned. She tells him that Abe has made a terrible mistake and unless he hurries, he will pay for it with his life.
Simcoe and Abe prepare for their duel, with only their seconds present: Baker and another Redcoat. A coin toss determines that Abe will shoot first. Abe and Simcoe stand back-to-back, and Simcoe creepily whispers, "She's mine." They walk five pace, turn back, Abe is told to fire, and he misses. Simcoe is smug, doing some villainous monologuing before preparing to fire. He is interrupted by Richard and Anna. Anna pleads with Simcoe not to shoot him, saying that there's nothing between her and Abe and they have both returned to their vows. She successfully talks him down and Simcoe fires his gun in a different direction. Abe asks for a reload, intending to attempt to shoot Simcoe again. Richard announces that he will personally prosecute Abe if he injures or kills Simcoe and when Richard pleads with him to think of his wife and son, Abe has flashes of the faces of all his friends and loves ones and lowers his loaded weapon.
Anna tells Abe he should have killed Simcoe when he had the chance but Abe reminds her that his father would have prosecuted him. Anna says that her father was bluffing and he would have protected Abe. Mary watches as the pair leave to sell her cauliflower and retrieve Anna's husband.
Turn airs on AMC on Sundays at 9PM.
Abe is headed to New York and stops at a tavern to pick up an egg. A Redcoat follows him out and asks how much the egg costs. They get into a scuffle, Abe drops his egg, and the shell cracks, revealing a secret message beneath it. The Redcoat shoots Abe, who is left with a stomach wound.
A prisoner exchange sees Simcoe returned to the Redcoats and General Scott tell Ben he will leave nothing out of his report regarding the falsification of the documents. Ben tells him he has already told Washington everything he has done. A man is executed by hanging after stealing various items. General Washington has a meeting with his men because he wants to determine if the information he received (from Abe) was a fluke or if more importantly, the fluke can be repeated. General Scott is annoyed that Ben Tallmadge is essentially being rewarded for defying his authority with this spy ring being allowed to continue.
Major Andre tells Abigail that important company is coming and instructs her on the proper way to set up the table. He then asks her to show him how her former mistress how Anna would cut and heat her meat. He corrects her by going behind her and showing her how it is done in Europe while holding onto her arms. His guests then come in, one of which is Simcoe, and Andre tells Abigail to show them to their rooms.
A fight breaks out amongst Cicero and a black soldier working for the Crown. Robert Rogers breaks it up and asks Cicero where he learned to defend himself using the sticks but Cicero remains hostile towards him.
Ben is instructed by Sackett on how to arrange dead drops and use encryption. He asks Ben what encryption method he has been using but Ben says he hasn't been using any. Sackett says that the brilliance of Mr. Woodhull is that his being a farmer makes him blend in more easily. However, Abe's lack of funds may be a weak point, as he would have difficult bribing people and the Continental Congress would be unlikely to approve money going to Abe.
Abe wakes up tied to a pole and a man tells him he has been out in the forest for five months ambushing people. He demands information from Abe, saying it is the only reason he is still alive, and Abe quickly admits to his being a spy. The man tells Abe that if he doesn't tell him what he needs to know, his body will be liberated of its skin.
Sackett tells Ben to not tell anyone else about Abe, not even his name. He then begins writing on an eggshell with a chemical, stressing the art of concealment. He holds the egg over a fire and then tosses it to Ben, who peels off the shell to find the words "Mr. W" imprinted on the hard-boiled egg.
Simcoe meets with Andre and is asked for information. Simcoe expresses his desire to return to a lady in Setauket, New York, referring to Anna Strong. Andre simply asks Simcoe to tell him more about her.
The man is still interrogating Abe, and asks why he didn't join the Patriots. Abe says that he wouldn't be able to win and is simply doing what he can for his son. The man cuts Abe loose and demands that he fight him to prove his worth but their scuffle is interrupted by approaching Redcoats. They are searching for the man that ambushed Abe and shoot him before stabbing him with a bayonet. They tell Abe that it's over now and he is safe.
Major Andre and his guests are having dinner. Simcoe reaches out and stabs one of the other Redcoats, saying that the man didn't know the motto of his regiment and must have been a spy. Andre is furious, telling Simcoe he had plans for this man and already knew about the man being a spy. He tells Simcoe to return to Setauket, hoping that this woman of his will settle his savage side. Meanwhile, Abigail is listening in from the next room.
Ben, Scott, Washington, and Sackett all meet and Ben tells Washington that the spy ring may not be successful because currently their group is riddled with mistrust, listing the various ways that this is true. Washington then announces that he wants to speak with Ben Talmadge alone.
Cicero is in a bare-knuckle boxing match against the man he had previously fought with. Cicero is the victor. An Indian tells Robert Rogers that Abraham Woodhull has a brother, Samuel, that is on a prison ship in New Jersey.
Washington tells Ben about a man named Nathaniel Hale that was hung as a spy because he didn't have friends. He then speaks of the Woodhull's connection to this and says that "Mr. Culpeper" will have friends to support him and that they will never use the name "Woodhull" again.
A Redcoat asks Abe if the man who ambushed him had told him his name and Abe says no.
Major Andre learns about Abigail having a son and that his birthday is coming up. He tells Abigail to think of a present that he can send to him.
General Washington tells General Scott that Ben has been promoted to the rank of "major" and tells Ben to come up with a first name for Abe. Ben chooses "Samuel," in honour of his brother and then asks what the meaning of the name "Culpeper" is. Washington replies that that is an excellent question.
Turn airs on Sundays on AMC at 9PM.
Abe tells his father he plans to head to New York alone and reach it by nightfall, and says he needs a lettter from Col. Cook to get past the checkpoints. His father says no one is conducting business over the holidays (it's Christmas) and Abe says that this is the precise reason to do the business and a better deal can be struck. Richard tells his son that he has been distant and Abe doesn't hide his disdain for the happenings with the gravestones. Abe relents about leaving but says he will be spending Christmas at home with his family and to not expect them to visit his place. On his way out, Abe sneaks upstairs, goes through some documents, and writes down some information he finds.
Conflict arises when Anna learns her belongings are to be seized by the British army and she decides to hold on to one of her slaves, Abby, despite having already promised her her freedom. Abby will now also have to face separation from her son. In the end, Judge Woodhull and Major Hewlett do indeed seize Anna's possessions and take her male slaves so they can fight in the British army. The females slaves are also taken, including Abby, to be "gifts" for the British officers.
When Abby is preparing to leave, she says goodbye to her son who is to stay with Anna. She speaks with Anna in private and reveals that she knows what Anna has been up to with Abe and the spy ring. She tells Anna that if she promises to look after her son, she will help them get information from her new master, Major Andre.
Anna visits Abe, who is also at a low point, having just had a disagreement with his wife and feeling increasingly disillusioned by the risk he is putting them in by working in the spy ring. He doesn't know if any of what he has done is worth it. Anna lets him know about Abigail and prepares to leave since Abe had become argumentative. He follows after her to apologise and keep her from leaving without making amends and then they end up kissing. Their passions increase to the point of nearly having sex but they are interrupted by the British soldier staying with the Woodhulls. At the soldier's advice, Abe heads out to his father's to join Mary and his son for Christmas.
At Trenton, NJ, Abe's information finally reaches General Washington, thus allowing the state to be reclaimed from the British. Unfortunately, Robert Rodgers learns from General Lee that the man who got away back in the first episode was Benjamin Tallmadge, which also puts Abe at risk given their connection. The episode closes with General Washington questioning Tallmadge about Abe, wanting to know more about the man responsible for their victory.
Turn airs on Sundays on AMC at 9PM.
Richard Woodhull, Abe, and his wife and child gather round for the funeral of Captain Thomas Woodhull, one of Abe's brothers. Meanwhile, a Redcoat is flogged for "looking in the wrong direction." He's suspected of allowing some Rebels to get by. High-ranking Redcoats, Major Hewlett and Appleton discuss military positions, and hope to use stone from the gravestones to fire on their opponent from behind. Richard doesn't approve of the idea, saying that the ancestors and loved ones of the townspeople are buried in that cemetery. Hewlett proposes that Richard's loved ones will be immune but Richard still doesn't approve. Another officer comes in to discuss which stones are best to use; only ten appear to be needed. Richard concedes, and agrees to choose the names of the stones that would cause the least protest.
General Scott talks with Captain Tallmadge and Caleb, wanting to know the source of information regarding the positions of the Redcoats, but Tallmadge and Caleb refuse to give Abe's name up. General Scott says he can't trust them if they won't offer him the same courtesy and has paper with the information on it burned.
Abe tries to convince his father not to get involved with the desecration of the gravestones but Richard claims he is simply making the hard decisions that Abe would no doubt run away from.
Major Andre is still cavorting with the prostitute he was previously seen with. At the same establishment, another prostitute plays "Marco Polo" with a Redcoat general before Major Andre interrupts.
Mary puts the moves on Abe, saying she can be anything he wants in order to coax him into having sex with her. She says there should be no secrets between them but she knows there is another in his thoughts. He makes her promise to keep it secret and then shares the news about his father at the gravestones. The following day, Mary is at a knitting circle with some other womyn who press her for information on what Richard is up to. It should surprise no one that she ends up spilling the information about moving the gravestones.
Major Andre interrogates the general, saying he is a deserter of the Royal Army. He threatens to hang him if he doesn't provide useful information. The prostitute he had been involved with is actually in league with Andre and his men. She's screaming as if in pain from the other room when she's actually playing cards.
Mary recites her prayers to Thomas and Abe when they hear a commotion outside. Abe looks out the window and sees at least half the town with torches in hand headed to Richard Woodhull's house. Mary admits to "letting it slip" and apologises to Abe. Richard steps out to meet the villagers who ask him if it's true that the gravestones will be taken. Richard tries to stay diplomatic. Abe rides up and tells them Richard is protecting everyone. Richard declares that no one's stones would be taken without consent of the heads of the families, saying that the stones would be used to protect the families and would expect them to rise to it. He bids them goodnight and they all leave. Abe tells him he has done the right thing but Richard replies that all he's done is take a difficult task and made it impossible.
Caleb and Ben talk about the burned letter and Caleb suggests that Ben rewrite it, "beef it up," and then sneak it through to General Washington.
Richard talks to Lucinda Scudder, trying to convince her to donate a gravestone in order to inspire others. She refuses despite his insistence that he has tried to make Major Hewlett see reason. She tells him that if he forges ahead of this, he might as well be digging his own grave.
A man named Martin comes up to visit Abe, saying that he has a message for Richard: if he tries to take their stones, the townspeople will defend themselves. He goes on to threaten them, saying he knows people in New York who could cause harm to Richard. Abe knocks him down and draws his knife, telling him to never threaten his father again. Martin tells him that though his quarrel had been with Richard, it is now with Abe as well.
Caleb and Ben write up a new letter with false information added to conceal the true intel that they had wanted to get through. General Scott has had a habit of only reading the first bits of whatever he's given so they are successful. General Scott tells them this is the kind of intelligence they should have been bringing him.
Major Hewlett tells Richard off for the current predicament with the gravestones but Richard explains that the townspeople see this as a reproach against God. Richard wants more time but Hewlett tells him if he doesn't give him a list of names by the next day, Appleton will choose which gravestones to move.
Abe is heading out in the middle of the night and Mary enquires where he is going. Abe says he's off to see his father, needing to tell him something.
Major Andre is still keeping up the charade of roughing up the woman, Iris, in order to get his prisoner to talk. Andrew wants him to be in charge of the surrender which, if successful, will see his promoted to the next Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army.
Abe arrives at his father's place. Richard asks if he thinks hell exists in more than one place. Abe asks what the Bible says, but Richard says it along with his law books are silent in regards to this. Abe suggest that if Major Hewlett didn't think there was a threat to the town then perhaps the gravestones would be left alone. Abe suggests that he lead the townspeople to Hewlett's place to protest moving the stones. Richard doesn't see why this would work. Abe points out that Hewlett is acting like a capricious King. Richard sees Abe's point that Hewlett won't want to lose the town and agrees to go forth with this plan. Abe helps his father to bed while he babbles about another of his dead sons.
The letters written by Caleb and Ben are added to a desk completely covered with letters. It is unknown how long it will take for the intel to reach General Washington.
Richard leads the townspeople to Hewlett's place of residence. He declares how he was always against the plan. He speaks to the townspeople of how they have forgotten to consider that God wants sacrifice and that this is more important than what he or Hewlett wants. He speaks of God's sacrificing his only son to save them all and in order to punctuate this, he goes and digs up the gravestone of his son, Captain Thomas Woodhull. This inspires the other townsfolk to begin digging up the stones of their loved ones, while Abe looks on in quiet horror. Martin goes to Abe and asks for him to ask for Richard's forgiveness but Abe tells him to ask him himself, which he does quietly.
Hewlett tells another officer that he had chosen the gravestones because he knew that Rebels would not to fire upon them. He goes on to say that this is how you tame a colony. Not through battle, but through winning their hearts and mind.
Turn airs on AMC on Sundays at 9PM.
In Northern New Jersey, Simcoe is being transported while still wearing his dishevelled wig. Ben and Caleb are riding up front when they stumble across members of the Continental Army and other wounded folk who tell them that many men have been either taken prisoner or killed. Simcoe smugly and cheerfully calls out, "By all means, let us continue to New York!"
Richard, Abe's father, is at Abe's place to discuss their upcoming business trip to New York. He heads out and Abe's wife Mary tells Abe she's jealous of his trip.
General Scott and the others stop at a farmhouse and ask the owners if they might stay there for the night. Scott warns Tallmadge he'll be facing disciplinary charges but he might be willing to overlook them if he behaves himself for the remainder of the trip. Tallmadge send Caleb off to find a boat and get more information from Abe
Richard and Abe have begun their journey to New York. Richard proposes they stop by Abe's old alma mater but Abe is less than keen on the idea.
Caleb is preparing to leave and is questioned by others in the militia who are suspicious, thinking he might be deserting them. After he leaves, they discuss the possibility of switching sides, thinking only of their personal self-interest and preservation.
Abe and his father reach New York island where they encoutner a Redcoat whom Abe's father tells he would trust Abe with all his affairs. The officer jokes that he wouldn't.
Caleb arrives on shore and is helped out of his boat by a friend. Anna heads out to her bone and finds Caleb hiding there. She tells him she can get information from the Redcoats who drink at her tavern, as they have a propensity for spilling secrets while there if and when she lowers the price of ale. Caleb doesn't think spy work is meant for ladies but she tells him off, saying womyn are plenty capable of the same covert work. She kicks him out when he won't change his mind.
Richard and Abe have dinner with the Redcoat officer. They're negotiating a business deal to sell hogs to the Redcoats. The negotiation comes to a standstill until Abraham steps in and sets up a stronger deal that will allow his father to turn a profit.
Simcoe, Tallmadge, Scott, and others are eating dinner at the farmhouse when the militia from earlier call them out and show themselves to have indeed chosen to switch sides. It's mutiny and they want to take them to Pennsylvania for a ransom. There is a gun fight that leaves some of the men wounded. Simcoe comes out and tries to get some of the mutinous militia to accept him as their leader but he instead knocked in the head with a gun.
Mary has a boarder in her home and rubs his shirt to try to get a stain out of it. He mentions Abe, saying he is a good man, and informs her of his seeing him when passing by the tavern. She immediately becomes suspicious.
Anna is still speaking with Caleb in her barn. He asks her to head to the wharf to see if there are any unattended boats he'll be able to use to "get out of her hair." She agrees and he apologises about Simcoe. She tells him how Abe has said he's "done with this double life." Of course Abe is not actually done with being a spy.
There is a standoff at the farmhouse. Tallmadge tries to talk the mutinous militia down, reminding them of the oaths they took. He tells them they are fighting against he British and King. The militia shoot again and tell them they must come out and surrender.
Richard and Abe get into an argument about morally questionable business tactics of Richard. Richard tells Abe that perhaps he overestimated him. He could have been a worthy man capable of taking care of his family. Richard goes on to compare Abe to his brother but Abe snaps back that his brother is dead. He then storms out and heads to King's College. A Redcoat spots him and tells him to go home. He instead comes across some German Redcoats gathered around a campfire and introduces himself as a cabbage farmer. They give him a bite of sauerkraut and discuss buying cabbage from him. Under this guise of selling and delivering cabbage to them, he is able to learn of some military positions.
Mary visits Anna at the pub and tells her she knows what she has been doing. Mary believes that Anna and Abe have been having an affair and tells her she's willing to allow it to continue so long as their time together is limited. Anna tells her they have not been having an affair, despite the fact that they'd had a secret engagement before Abe called it off since his father would not have approved of the match. Mary doesn't believe this but Anna tells her to simply ask Abe, or even his father.
It's morning and the standoff is still underway at the farmhouse. The militia tell the officers to come out or they will come in shooting. Ben and Scott, who has a leg injury, come out telling them not to shoot. Ben then pulls out his pistol and shoots the milita leader in the head and shoots at another one. Simcoe claps and snidely commends him for his work, all while being tied to a tree.
Abraham makes it back to Anna's house and shares the enemy positions he has learned of with both Anna and Caleb, who is still there. Anna shares the news of Simcoe's death. Caleb was about to tell him the truth but Anna asks him not to, preferring that the bad news come from her or perhaps simply wishing to put it off for as long as possible.
Caleb emerges from the water to hide beneath a blanket near some Redcoats.
At the farmhouse, Tallmadge learns that Washington had escaped and is still alive. General Scott order Tallmadge to execute one of the militia men that Tallmadge has previously promised to spare. Tallmadge would rather take the court martial than go against his word so Scott shoots the man dead anyway.
Caleb comes out from his hiding place on a boat with two oarsmen. He throws them overboard and some Redcoats shoot at them. However, he is already out too far for them to hit him and he continues to row on. Anna and Abe watch from afar with smiles on their faces.
Turn airs on AMC on Sundays at 9PM.
Redcoats reach the scene of the massacre of their fellow comrades. This is the massacre that took place thanks to the intelligence Abe provided about an attack intended to take place on a nearby Rebel safe house.
Abe discusses their supply of cabbage and having enough to make it through the winter. But shortly after this, some masked men on horseback set the sheds containing the cabbages on fire. The identity of these fire-starters remains unknown. Abe later meets with his father who reminds him that people are still blaming him for the death of the officer. Abe tells him he did not do it and tells his father that he is sorry for not accepting his help. His father tells him he has kept his name off the list of suspects but unfortunately for Abe, one of the names on that list is Anna Strong. Abe visits Anna to let her know that she is a suspect. She thinks that Simcoe has been killed and therefore no longer be a problem to her or the others but he is in fact still alive.
Simcoe has been taken captive and is currently in a jail cell of the Continental Congress. A worker is trying to remove a bullet from his leg. Tallmudge comes to question him but Simcoe simply snarks about the rum he has been given and pours it onto the ground.
The Scottish Loyalist Robert Rogers meets with his informer, John Andre, who discusses the bonnet found on one of the Redcoat corpses. He says that they will find out who placed the bonnet and who provided the information about the planned attack on the safehouse.
Anna rifles through Simcoe's belongings and finds a letter that she brings to Abe. From reading it, they learn about a signal used by the Redcoats to sound the retreat. Robert Rogers goes to try to speak to Simcoe but learns that he is missing. Rogers asks how many were involved in the massacre but does not get an answer. Rogers asks Major Hewlett to tell him about "troubled" Captain Joyce. Joyce is the one that caused the confrontation in the pub that led to Anna's husband being arrested.
Tallmudge and Simcoe have dinner in the jail while Caleb stands off to the side. Simcoe asks what they want to know. Tallmudge says they already know what they need to, such as the fact that they have 4,000 Redcoats stationed outside of New York. Simcoe laughs and says they actually have 6,000. He laughs about how he shouldn't laugh at another man's misfortune and Caleb becomes enraged, attacking Simcoe and punching him repeatedly.
Robert Rogers meets with Abe and his father at the pub where Anna works. Rogers wants to know how so many Redcoats were killed without ant Continental Congress casualties. Rogers says that Captain Joyce's murder is part of this riddle. Abe turns over the letter Anna game to him to try to guide his investigation. He decides to examine Joyce's body, on which they find a knife wound. Rogers thinks a woman could have been his murderer and considers Anna as a suspect. Abraham says that there were four womyn who were close enough to have heard the retreat signal and commit the murder. But this ends up being narrowed down to two suspects, still including Anna.
A redcoat that served under Captain Joyce says that he would sometimes sound the retreat just to keep the men on their toes. Abe approaches a man and tells him he knows he committed the murder and tells him to meet him at midnight. Abe tells him to confess, pulling out the letter that he says proves it. The man pulls out a knife, admitting to the murder and making Abe the scapegoat. Rogers is hiding nearby and hears the confession and kills the man's accomplice who was about to kill Abe. Rogers says they will claim the dead man was Joyce's killer, as he wants the actual guilty man to be his spy and report back to him. Rogers warns him that Abe will also be keeping an eye on him.
Tallmudge and Caleb have Simcoe hanging by his wrists. They are beating and torturing him in an attempt to get information but Simcoe has not lost his sassy, insulting ways. Caleb wants to kill him but Tallmudge says he will do it instead. They are interrupted by General George Washington who is horrified by the display. He tells Tallmudge he will be facing disciplinary charges and apologises to Simcoe, saying men under his command are to treat other officers with respect, regardless of whether they are captive. Simcoe thanks him and says not to go too hard on Tallmudge, adding that he has been a perfect gentleman.
Following a hook-up with an actress from the play at which he had met with Rogers, Andre says he is headed to New Jersey. Abe meets with Anna in the woods and Anna tells him of a rumour that the company drummer killed Joyce, despite this not making any sense. Abe tells her that Simcoe's body was not found in Connecticut, so he may very well still be alive. Abe expresses concern for Anna's safety, though they are both likely to suffer if Simcoe returns.
Turn airs on Sundays on AMC at 9PM.
Autumn 1776 - Insurgents have declared war against the Crown. Following a successful naval landing, His Majesty's Army has forced Washington's rebels into the wilderness. New York City serves as military base of operations for the British. The Loyalists of nearby Long Island keep a vigilant watch out for sympathisers, and spies...
Setauket, Long Island - Abraham Woodhull (Jamie Bell) is a humble cabbage farmer with a wife and a baby son learning to walk. He's content to live a quiet life with his family and wait out the end of the Redcoat occupation of New York. However, while visiting a tavern owned by a man to whom he owes money, he ends up in a scuffle with some drunken Redcoats and apprehended. His father speaks on his behalf to get him released, and Abe is able to return home.
Abe's father comes to his home and offers to help him with his financial problems. He tells him he has a responsibility and that legacy is everything. Abe was just trying to do right but Abe's father advises him that it would be better if he obeyed the rule of mother England. Abe doesn't want to accept the financial help, preferring to get out of it himself. He takes some cabbage and trades it on the black market to a childhood friend named Caleb for some silk and cash.
Abe is stopped in his boat heading back to Long Island by colonial soldiers who suspect that he is a British spy in addition to being an illegal trader. He is nearly tortured but Ben Talmadge stops is. Ben is an old friend of Abe's who is now serving as a Connecticut dragoon fighting against the British. Ben wants to enlist Abe to become a spy to help them learn what the British are up to. Seeing no other way to get his freedom, Abe agrees to help, while refusing to give up the name of the person he sold the cabbage to.
Abe returns to a bit of a mess, not realising that he is the primary suspect in the recent murder of Captain Joyce. Even his own father suspects that he is guilty. He is apprehended by Redcoats. He tries to claim that he was mugged, and even has a head-wound that he inflicted on himself. He admits to the selling of the cabbage and says that he was taken captive by the enemy who beat him and threw him overboard. He is permitted to leave after providing something "stolen" from the ship, though he is warned he will have to pay for the crime of smuggling as well as return to provide more details on his assailants.
Abe visits his former fiancee Anna, the tavern owner's wife, who tells him Simcoe has been trying to make a move on her while her husband is still jailed. Simcoe was also one of the men that assaulted Abe in the tavern and has been largely antagonistic towards him, believing him guilty of the murder. Anna convinces Abe to help the colonists and even agrees to help him in any way she can. Meanwhile, Abe's wife Mary warns him to not do whatever it is that he is planning on doing, saying they can't afford to lose him.
Abe is able to get information about a planned ambush to the Colonial Army. He gets word to Anna and is forced to hide when Simcoe comes into the barn. She charms him out of the barn so Abe remains undiscovered. Abe encounters Caleb in the woods and learns that he is part of the Colonial Army. Caleb was the first "interview" that led to Abe's recruitment as a spy, with the first test being whether or not he would give up his name.
Abe then has to loudly and publicly declare his allegiance to loyalty before his father, while Anna, Mary, and the rest of the town stand around and watch. Ben and his men are able to ambush the Redcoats, who are swiftly gunned and/or knifed down. However, Simcoe is taken captive by the men in the hopes of gaining more information. Abe's father remains suspicious of him, knowing that he lied about his story. He tells him he doesn't know what he is hiding but he will tell him eventually because he won't have a choice. He says to Abe, "I'm done protecting you."
Turn airs on Sundays on AMC at 9PM.
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