The Terror: Season 1 Episode 6 A Mercy
James Fitzjames decides to hold a carnival before the crew is forced to trek across the Arctic.
Series Index
Characters/Groups
Francis Crozier - Jared Harris
James Fitzjames - Tobias Menzies
Cornelius Hickey - Adam Nagaitis
Henry Collins - Trystan Gravelle
Thomas Hartnell - Jack Colgrave Hirst
Lt. Edward Little - Matthew McNulty
Lt. John Irving - Ronan Raftery
Dr. MacDonald - Charles Edwards
William Gibson - Edward Ashley
Charles Des Voeux - Sebastian Armesto
Lt. George Hodgson - Christos Lawton
Lt. H.T.D. Le Vesconte - Declan Hannigan
Sgt. Solomon Tozer - David Walmsley
Pvt. William Pilkington - Aaron Jeffcoate
Thomas Armitage - Charlie Kelly
Pvt. William Heather - Roderick Hill
Magnus Manson - Stephen Thompson
Character thumbnails with links to profiles
Detailed Synopsis
January, 1848, Lt. John Irving gives a briefing to James Fitzjames, Lt. George Hodgson, Dr. MacDonald, Dr. Stanley, Thomas Blanky and Lt. H.T.D. Le Vesconte on the status of the ships' supplies. He then mentions that Dr. MacDonald thinks any of the anti-scurvy properties the lemons may have had have worn out due to age. He ends by telling Fitzjames if they reduce their rations by 3/4 then they will run out by midwinter next year. Fitzjames tells Irving to have John Diggle and Richard Wall focus on serving salted meats to save the portable food stuffs. Fitzjames releases everyone else, except for Blanky, who he questions about what happened to Sir John Ross at Fury Beach. Blanky tells Fitzjames of how Sir Ross was willing to leave behind the sick before leaving any equipment behind, of how they built Somerset House. He continues that even in camp, the officers lived a life of relative plenty while the others slept in ditches, and of how he wanted to kill Sir Ross. As he continues, John Bridgens overhears him as he waits outside the door.
Fitzjames opens one of John Franklin's trunks and finds theater costumes and masks. Thomas Jopson combs Francis Crozier's hair as Crozier lays in bed. Jopson tells Crozier of the time he helped his mother through her addiction after she became an addict when her hand was crushed by bleachers during a circus performance in Marylebone. Cornelius Hickey removes the bandage covering Pvt. William Heather's exposed brain and sticks his finger in Heather's brain. Henry Goodsir takes notes as Jacko continues to eat the canned food and shows signs of agitation. Hickey asks William Gibson information about what the officers are doing. Lt. Edward Little orders all the men to attention and Le Vesconte tells the crew that Fitzjames has proposed holding a carnival. Lady Silence cuts open a seal and eats a portion of eat before offering it to the Tuunbaq. Hickey says hello to Thomas Armitage and tells Thomas Hartnell that Armitage always wanted to be a Royal Marine, but his deafness in an ear prevented it. Hickey tells him that Armitage owes them for not exposing him as part of the group that kidnapped Lady Silence. Hartnell tells Hickey that he regrets joining him and Hickey walks away.
The men build the carnival structure and Fitzjames tells Little that his plan is to hike to find help. Henry Collins goes to look for Goodsir, who isn't present, and tells Dr. Stanley that he is having bad thoughts. He tells him that he is constantly doing tasks, but that he can't stop thinking about the dark thoughts he is having. Dr. Stanley tells him to keep busy and to enjoy carnival and that the carnival will sort them all out. While looking for a costume to wear, Fitzjames notices he is suddenly bleeding from his scalp. Charles Des Voeux tells Goodsir that there is trouble in the lower deck. Goodsir finds a crowd surrounding a cabin door and screeching coming from the cabin. He looks in and hears Jacko thrashing around and pools of blood. Henry Peglar knocks on Bridgens' door and Bridgens gives him Xenophon to read and to think how he would prepare for such a journey as the mercenaries undertook in the book. As Lady Silence is chanting, the Tuunbaq walks towards her and she cuts out her tongue. Goodsir examines the now dead Jacko and sees it has black gums like John Morfin has and realizes the canned food is tainted with lead. Jopson finds Crozier sitting next to Neptune and Crozier notices the ship seems quiet. Jopson tells him about carnival and Crozier says he wants to see it.
Goodsir tells Dr. Stanley about the lead poisoning and Dr. Stanley tells him not to tell anyone and he will decide what to do. Carnival starts and Crozier and Jopson arrive later and find the crew drunk. Crozier holds a speech and tells the crew that they need to return to their homes. As Crozier is giving his speech, Lady Silence stumbles through the carnival tents and Dr. Stanley opens the taps on the casks of alcohol and begins pouring fuel everywhere. Crozier tells them that they will be walking to safety. Dr. Stanley ties the entrance to the carnival tent shut as Crozier continues that they should find help from the Netsilik people on their way and should eventually meet up with Lt. Fairholme and his group. Lady Silence stumbles into the crowd and shortly after, Dr. Stanley starts himself and the carnival camp on fire. The fire spreads through carnival and some of the crew are burned to death. Sgt. Solomon Tozer tries to keep hold of Heather, but the crowd pulls him away. Hickey uses a knife to cut open the canvas and kills Dr. MacDonald in the process. The remaining crew stumble out of the area and Bridgens and Peglar hug each other when they find one another in the crowd. The dead are lined up and Crozier is told that Dr. Peddie also died in the fire and the sun fails to rise.