‘Around the World in 80 Days’ Recap: Episode 7
Hard to believe, but we have reached the penultimate installment of Around the World in 80 Days' globetrotting saga. Last week, our travelers were marooned on a desert island with few resources and their wits to get them back to civilization.
It's Day 65, and we've reached the breathtaking Rocky Mountain region via an exceedingly jarring stagecoach journey. Battle Mountain is the destination, where the trio will catch a cross-country train to New York City. Provisions are low, and their margin for unexpected stops or breakdowns is almost non-existent. So predictably, they are flagged by a man with a rifle who wants to commandeer their coach.
Bass Reeves (Gary Beadle) — the first black US Marshal west of the Mississippi — is transporting a prisoner to Louisiana to stand trial for violating civil rights. Sally (Elena Saurel), the stagecoach conductor, isn't keen on them, but it's Mr. Fogg's decision since he's paying. Once settled, the prisoner, Colonel Ambrose Abernathy (John Light) introduces himself; he recognizes Fogg from the newspapers. He informs the trio everyone thinks they fell overboard and are presumed dead.
Abagail suggests they send a telegram to her father, but Phileas opts to sort things out when they get back to London. The stagecoach stops to water the horses; while they wait, Abernathy engages Phileas in conversation about his admiration for England, where there" is a place for everyone and everyone in their place." The fugitive also tells a disbelieving Fogg that Abigail and Passepartout are getting inappropriately close and he should do something about it.
Meanwhile, Bass fills Passepartout in on his prisoner. The lawman tells him about the Klan, Ambrose's secret society, who don hoods to terrorize and murder black people. Losing the war has forced such men into the shadows. Reeves says he'll continue to fight to remain a free man. The marshal reminds Passepartout of his brother, who gave his life for a cause. The young Frenchman doubts he'd be willing to die for anything, but Bass says he'll only know in the moment.
Unfortunately, Abernathy's gang is tracking them. Once they cross the path of a horse without a rider and detect stagecoach tracks nearby, they deduce that they'll find their friend in Battle Mountain. Meanwhile, with the stagecoach underway again, Abigail chats to Reeves about his firearms. Her father taught her how to shoot when she was younger. The marshal loans her an elegant pistol, which he confiscated from Abernathy.
As on arrival in Battle Mountain, Fogg is ecstatic they can still make the train. Townspeople look suspiciously at the marshal walking his fugitive through the main street, as Sally suggests the saloon for a quick meal. As she bids Fogg farewell, she comments on how soft his hands are. He's taken aback by her forthright, flirty manner, but maybe he's flattered as well.
Abernathy questions Fogg about how he will deal with Passepartout and Abigail, and it finally dawns on Phileas how bigoted he is. Abigail is offended people don't recognize the relationship between her and Passepartout, snaps people should mind their own business, and goes off on her own.
Fogg orders the group from the establishment's minimal menu at the saloon. Abernathy antagonizes everyone with his racist vitriol, and Reeves urges Passepartout not to take the bait. Phileas makes it clear that he and Abernathy have no values in common. Abigail finds her way to the telegram office to send a pair of messages to London; however, the line goes dead. The operator says someone cut the wire: A robbery or murder is imminent.
Back in old Blighty, Bellamy (harassed by debt collectors) needles Bernard Fortescue to settle the wager. Though he's Fogg's executor, Fortescue doesn't see the point since Phileas is dead, but Bellamy says it's a matter of Fogg's honor. He even offers to make an appointment with the solicitor.
