“Reign of Terror” is episode ten of season one of The Time Tunnel.
At the end of the previous episode, “Devil’s Island”, Tony landed in a street at night. He hid from a guard, then Doug arrived. More armed men came down the street, with a cart, and arrested Doug. His attempt to break free failed and he’s put in a cart. A man speaks to Tony and tells him it’s a shame. Another aristocrat on the way to the guillotine. Well, that makes it revolutionary France. Tony realises that it’s Doug being taken away and says he doesn’t belong. The man doesn’t doubt that; many innocents are scooped up. Robespierre has a quota which is sometimes filled with random people from the streets. Tony goes after the cart and manages to get Doug free.
At Tik-Toc, they are watching a guillotine take another head. General Kirk says there’s no doubt about the time and place; the French Revolution.
Tony and Doug are running when the man who spoke to Tony earlier calls them over and gets them to come into his shop. He says that what Tony did was foolish. Tony points out that what the man is doing is foolish as well. Once convinced (rather easily, frankly) that they are not part of the Committee of Public Safety or a spy of Robespierre, the man says that maybe they are here to help the widow. Marie Antoinette. Before the Revolution, the man defended the queen at court and was imprisoned. She ordered him be freed and become his patroness. The queen is not yet dead; the Committee has not got the evidence to condemn her. Guards arrive outside and the man tells Doug and Tony to go upstairs and change. He answers the door and gets arrested for treason.
General Kirk always has problems with that period in history. He suggests sending his ring back, an heirloom, one that Doug and Tony should recognise. Something to gain focus on. It’s small, compact and recognisable and from the time period. It’s worth a shot.
Tony wants to help the man who helped them. Doug says they don’t even know his name. It’s above the shop; Blanchard. Tik-Toc have located them and sent the ring back. Doug and Tony need help to get out of Paris, then the ring appears., Doug gets it and Tony recognises it as the general’s. They realise it’s been sent back as a focal point and could bring them back. Doug tells Tony to put it on; it won’t matter who wears it as long as they don’t get separated.
Then they see a man who looks like General Kirk and assume it is him. Unfortunately, they realise too late that it isn’t. The man, General Querque, demands to see the ring and has them arrested as Royalist spies. The ring has an inscription on the inside; ‘To Axel from M A with eternal love.’ Marie Antoinette; this will get the queen executed.
By the time Doug and Tony get to prison they have twigged that it isn’t Kirk. Blanchard is in the same cell. They will all be sent to the guillotine. Blanchard says that it is possible to escape, but they need time and to be left alone. So, General Querque promptly arrives. He has questions about the ring, starting with where they got it. He thinks claiming they found it in the street is a terrible lie. The shopkeeper is known to be an admirer of Marie Antoinette. The ring is a gift from the queen to a Swedish diplomat; the evidence they need to behead her. Tony, Doug and Blanchard try to break free. They fail.
Tik-Toc is watching. General Kirk says his ancestors came from Scotland; General Querque can’t be an ancestor. None of his family came from France. Though, France and Scotland did have a lot of interconnection; not that this is pointed out.
Blanchard can help Doug and Tony get out of Paris. However, this requires them to help him reach the queen, who will be able to convince others to help. They agree. Querque has a different opinion. On the way, they stumble across a famous name.
Tik-Toc should really start testing stuff before they randomly try it.