Clara Stowe

**Clara Jane Stowe** was a follower of Maladie who wanted to become Touched. She believed to be working for her turn through sacrifice, having already cut off her little toes from both feet.

## Biography

Hidden in the Southwark & Vauxhall Water Works, Clara asks a kidnaped Mary Brighton to sing for her. Clara says that if she hears it then that means she's finally Touched, but Mary tells Clara that she's not. Clara replies that she's working for her turn through sacrifice, having already sacrificed her little toes but that wasn't enough.

The Colonel mocks Clara and throws a turkey leg on the ground for Mary to eat. Clara watches as Mary grabs the food, the illusion fading and revealing that it's actually a dead rat. Bonfire Annie scolds the two for harassing Mary, as they were given strict instructions to leave her be. Clara accuses Annie of being with them for the cause, only for the money, then she leaves with the Colonel saying it's time for church. Later, Clara flees with Maladie and Colonel when the police arrive to rescue Mary, Penance Adair, and Amalia True.

The next day, Clara and the Colonel stand guard outside a carriage, while Maladie asks Horatio Cousens to use his healing turn on her gunshot wound. As they wait, Clara remarks to Colonel that her toes itch, both the ones that she still has and the ones that she doesn't.

Days later, Maladie has Mundi chasing after her. She hides in a corner while Clara, disguised as Maladie, attacks Mundi. Believing Clara to be Maladie, Mundi places her in a chokehold and renders her unconscious. One of the officers comes towards her with a knife, but Mundi disarms him and declares that, like anyone else, Maladie will receive proper justice. Imprisoned under Maladie's identity, Clara spends the night being held in a cell, bound to a bed, claiming to be just the instrument of one's plan. While not being in physical pain to avoid Maladie's empowerment turn, Clara is not allowed to wash or change.

She is sentenced to hang in the public square. Meanwhile, Maladie, disguised as the journalist Effie Boyle, writes an article on *The Clarion* newspaper calling this an unjust sentence. Penance and a group of Touched organize a plan to rescue who they believe to be Maladie, but Clara nonetheless jumps to hang herself. This act is watched by a crowd of 400 people, including Maladie. Mundi then realizes that she didn't want to escape but an audience to kill. The Colonel, after saying it was a privilege, turns on the power and electrocutes those in the front row of the crowd, killing those who held the metal barricade. The people begin to run in panic, while outside the Beggar King forges a Purist manifestation.

Later, Mundi stands next to the hanging body as her right shoe falls off. He discovers that she is missing all of her toes except for the big toe. Mundi returns to his office holding the file of Clara Stowe, which includes a picture of her mutilated feet. He realizes Maladie was Clara, Effie was Maladie, and a past victim was Effie.

## Behind the scenes

* She is portrayed by Sylvie Briggs and Amy Manson.
* Clara's hanging scene is similar to reports on Lavinia Fisher (1793–1820). Both she and her husband, Charles, were convicted of highway robbery and sentenced to death by hanging; at her execution, she yelled: "If any of you have a message for the devil, tell me now, for I shall be seeing him shortly," then jumped to her death before the sentence could be carried out.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 *The Nevers* — "Hanged". HBO, May 9, 2021.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 *The Nevers* — "Exposure". HBO, April 18, 2021.
3. ↑ *The Nevers* — "Ignition". HBO, April 25, 2021.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 *The Nevers* — "Undertaking". HBO, May 2, 2021.