The episode unfolds on the eve of Ruth Ellis's (Lucy Boynton) scheduled execution for the murder of David Blakely (Laurie Davidson). She imparts a poignant testament to Victor Mischon (Arthur Darvill), detailing the trajectory of her life since her tragic miscarriage. Through a series of flashbacks, we witness Blakely professing his heartfelt wish to be serenaded by her snores for eternity. She turns to him, her face contorted in silent agony, and he vows to start anew, a clean slate for both of them. She beseeches him for a promise, which he solemnly seals. Yet, as the clock strikes eight, he fails to materialize.
Desperate, Ruth phones the Findlater residence, only to be met with the cold voice of an unnamed woman informing her of Blakely's absence. Undeterred, she redials, this time reaching Anthony Findlater (Ed Sayer). Curiosity piqued, she inquires about the mysterious girl, but Anthony curtly dismisses her, asserting Blakely's absence and abruptly terminating the call. Unrelenting, Desmond Cussen (Mark Stanley) drives her to the Findlater's doorstep, where Carole Findlater (Bessie Carter) stonewalls her, denying Blakely's presence despite the evidence of his car in the driveway. Ruth accuses Carole of orchestrating a setup between Blakely and another woman, prompting Carole to declare their relationship over and dismiss Ruth as a shattered mess. Refusing to let Blakely slip away without confrontation, Ruth persists, only to be met with Carole's Slamming door. Desmond forcibly guides her away, querying whether Blakely has been taking refuge in the flat he rented for her. Meanwhile, Blakely and Anthony observe the scene from an upper-floor window as Desmond escorts Ruth, reluctantly, into his vehicle.
Returning to the present, Ruth confides in Victor, recounting how she spent a restless night reflecting on the tumultuous two years that had fueled her burgeoning rage. In another flashback, Ruth storms into Desmond's abode, her fury palpable as she wishes Blakely dead, yearning for liberation from their tumultuous bond. He suggests they could be free together, placing a gun on the table as a tantalizing proposition. She feigns ignorance of firearms, prompting him to volunteer to instruct her.
Victor, in the throes of concern, leaves a message for the undersecretary of state, announcing the imminent cancellation of the execution. Philip Allen (Geoffrey Streatfield), reminded of his expertise in divorce law rather than criminal matters, hesitates to guarantee a postponement, lamenting the swift transition from conviction to execution—a timeframe shorter than that required for a divorce. Insistent, Allen demands Scotland Yard locate the undersecretary without delay.
Elsewhere, DCI Davies (Joe Armstrong) and DI Gill (Adam Lawrence) dial Desmond's office, only to learn he has already left for the day. Gill reassures Davies, who had previously affirmed Ruth's role in pulling the trigger, that he had acted with diligence and rectitude. Meanwhile, at Holloway Prison, Jacqueline Dyer (Audrey Brisson) imparts strength to Ruth, affirming her bravery amidst her admitted terror. Their hands touch through the glass partition as they share nostalgic memories and mutual resilience. Jacqueline offers to extract a confession from Desmond and present it to the authorities, but Ruth assures her that Davies is on the case, anticipating Desmond's arrest that very night.
Victor lambasts John Bickford (played by Toby Jones), berating him for his silence regarding Desmond's handing of the gun to Ruth. In his intoxicated state, Bickford confesses to Victor that Ruth had coerced him into keeping quiet, with his ultimate goal being to prove that she had been provoked. Victor inquires if he struck a deal with Desmond, to which Bickford responds by implying that he was cowed by the formidable "English Machine," threatened by Ruth's influence. Victor implores him to intervene and save her, but Bickford asserts that it is already too late.
Upon his arrival at the prison, Albert Pierrepoint (portrayed by Tim Potter) is met with an irate mob. Ruth confides in Muriel Jakubait (Maddy Hill), revealing that she remained tight-lipped about Desmond until he breached his promise to care for Andre Ellis (Sidney Jackson). Bertha Neilson (Amanda Drew), Arthur Neilson (Tony Wadham), and Muriel harbor optimism regarding Ruth's statement. Arthur boasts about the media encampment outside their residence, while Bertha announces that they have amassed sufficient funds from well-wishers for her and Andre to embark on a fresh start. Throughout the night, chants from supporters echo in the air.
Through the bean hole, Pierrepoint casts a wary eye on Ruth as he meticulously arranges his attire on the bed. Elsewhere, Desmond extends an invitation to a woman, suggesting they leave town together. Ellis restlessly paces within his cell. Jayveer Sethia (Advait Kottary) questions Gill and Davies about their lack of effort in locating Desmond. Gill retorts that Ruth deserves her fate for shooting Blakely in the back, while Davies silences him, claiming they have searched diligently for Desmond, who deliberately evades them.
Elsewhere, Jacqueline inquiries with Morris Conley (Christian Patterson) about Desmond's whereabouts. He scoffs, saying Ruth should have approached him, as he would have relished the drama. He grumbles about how her actions ruined their lives, but she begs him to assist in finding Desmond. Shortly thereafter, Jacqueline tracks down Desmond at his apartment. He insists that Ruth is fabricating her story to save herself. She urges him to confess, as a gesture of his love for her. He assures her that she never reciprocated his feelings. She asks if he gave her the gun to inflict pain on both of them. He hands her money for Andre before departing with a woman. She attempts to detain him, but he threatens her.
Later, Jacqueline relates the encounter to Ruth. In a flashback, Desmond demonstrates how to use the gun to Ruth. She fires a shot, and Andre approaches. She commands him to return to the car. In the present, Jacqueline informs Ruth that Andre is a witness. Ruth dreads that he will blame himself if his testimony proves ineffective. In another flashback, Desmond vows to take care of Andre. Shortly afterward, she touches up her makeup, exits the car, and strides towards Magdala. Desmond steps in when a passerby inquires about Ruth's well-being. He reassures her that she can handle it. She awaits Clive Gunnel (Jack Staddon) and Blakely's emergence from the restaurant. She calls out to him. He glances at her and proceeds to unlock his door. She draws the gun, cocks it, and takes aim. Panicked, he tries to flee, but she shoots him. He collapses and attempts to crawl away. She fires twice more at point-blank range. Clive rushes to Blakely's aid as he lies wounded on the ground. Witnessing the entire ordeal, Desmond scuttles away. Ruth places the gun to her temple but lowers it to her side.
In the contemporary moment, Victor informs Ruth that her statement exists in both audio and written formats. In the audio recording, her voice is unmistakable as she requests a firearm from Desmond. Ruth vehemently denies uttering those words, hinting that there may be an ulterior motive to frame her, and implores Victor to instruct Bertha to send Andre away with the Rogers family. Outside the prison walls, a chorus of voices rises in a solemn prayer, their chants echoing through the air. Overwhelmed by the scene, Ruth descends into a panic. Joy Okoro, played by Gloria Obianyo, gently guides Ruth to the prison yard and offers her a beer in a gesture of camaraderie. Ruth remarks fondly on her time there, appreciating the kindness extended to her by her fellow inmates.
Allen receives a call at the prison, and Charity Taylor, portrayed by Juliet Stevenson, breaks the news to Ruth with a grave tone: her execution has been scheduled for the following day. With merely seven hours left on the clock, Ruth responds with a calmness that borders on eerie, asserting that everything will be alright. Victor, frustrated beyond measure, demands to speak with the home secretary through Allen, who relays a chilling message—if Ruth is not executed tomorrow, she never will be.
Flashback to 1955, the early hours of dawn see Pierrepoint donning his attire for the day's grim task, while Ruth immerses herself in a soothing bath. A throng gathers outside, their anticipation palpable. Joy arrives shortly thereafter, bringing Ruth her Hardy Aimes outfit, which evokes vivid memories of Bertha's reaction upon seeing it. Jayveer expresses regret to Jacqueline for being unable to publish their story, urging him to seek evidence from Andre. As the clock strikes 8 am, Joy places a tray before Ruth, who nearly spills her teacup upon hearing Pierrepoint's approach. Taylor receives word from an unverified source claiming to be from the home secretary's office, announcing a possible reprieve. Skeptical of the call's authenticity, Taylor instructs the execution to proceed as planned.
Ruth's anxiety spikes as Pierrepoint enters the room, securing her wrists with a belt. She is then led to the death chamber, Pierrepoint reassuring her that he will cause her no pain as he places a hood over her head. Beneath the hood, her breathing grows heavy and labored. At precisely 9 am, the hatch opens, and an eerie silence envelops the crowd gathered outside the prison walls.
In 1972, Bickford confessed to concealing evidence that implicated Desmond in Blakely's murder, facing no penalty for his actions. Haunted by this decision until his death from alcoholism in 1977, Desmond never confessed and eventually relocated to Australia, where he passed away in 1991. Notably, capital punishment was abolished in the United Kingdom in 1965, marking the end of an era marked by such grim spectacles.
