In the fourth episode of "Half Man," Ruben commences with effusive praise for Niall, sharing that Niall knows what he desires and takes it without hesitation. The scene then shifts to a chaotic moment where cops and wedding guests attempt to breach into the barn. The narrative cuts back in time, revealing that 14 years have elapsed since the court trial and Ruben's incarceration.
Niall's life has taken a dramatic turn. He sleeps with men and has exhibitionist and voyeuristic kinks, yet he doesn't consider himself gay as he's not in love with a man. He meets them in public places like bathrooms, parks, and libraries. He barely interacts with Lori, who constantly shames him for his lifestyle. He resides in a small apartment and struggles financially, resorting to stealing books from the library to sell online. His disillusionment with Oxford led him to drop out, citing stress from the trial and irritation with the snobby environment.
Niall possesses a charismatic demeanor when he chooses to be, often appearing aggressive and sarcastic, reminiscent of Ruben in his own way. His first book failed to gain traction, and his second manuscript is a mess. His publisher advises him to write about what he knows. Niall endeavors to chronicle his identity but struggles with the task.
One night, he catches Gus engaging in a sexual encounter with a man. It's the same Gus who bullied Niall for being effeminate in high school. They reconcile and catch up, with Gus confidently embracing his sexual identity in stark contrast to Niall's denial. Gus also reveals that Ruben has been out of prison for two years and is a successful white-collar worker. Niall's initial fear turns to anger when he learns that Ruben has been reconciling with everyone except him. He has a luxurious house, a Mercedes car, and is even married to Mona, the hook-up from Episode 1. However, Maura's brain-dead state after a suicide attempt necessitates Ruben's frequent contact with Lori for assistance.
For his second manuscript, Niall writes about how he ruined his brother's life. When the librarian, Nigel, refuses to let him print it, Niall vents his frustration by hooking up with a stranger in the library bathroom.
Nigel confronts Niall, revealing that he has installed a CCTV camera in the bathroom, fed up with Niall's hook-ups, library fines, and book theft. He has amassed a wealth of footage of Niall's trysts and threatens to release it unless he pays him 2,000 pounds for silence. Niall attempts to emotionally manipulate Joanna, who has constantly bailed him out of trouble, but she finally cuts him off.
Next, he turns to his mother, who initially scolds him but then points out that Niall is self-obsessed and always blames others for his problems. She reminds him that he had a nervous breakdown and was admitted to an asylum due to his conflicted testimony. She claims that Ruben is the only one who can help and reveals that all their money comes from him - from Niall's car to even his therapy. Humiliated, Niall trashes his room in a fit of rage.
Lori tries to comfort him with a harsh reality check, reminding him that he is nobody and should just accept his fate and live with it. This doesn't work, and in a fit of anger, Niall vandalizes Ruben's Mercedes. The car alarm goes off, and Ruben chases after him. Niall almost gets away but crashes into a van and wakes up in the hospital to a furious Ruben demanding answers.
When Niall tries to act ignorant, Ruben sexually assaults and beats him up, all of his frustrations coming out as he blames Niall for not letting him be with his sick mother and ruining his life. He goads Niall with the life he has now and how it's his money being used to bail Niall out. But the root of his anger is that Niall betrayed him by testifying against him.
It's Niall's turn to bare his feelings as he rants about how someone like Ruben succeeded while he, a former gifted kid, has nothing because he tried to do the right thing. He talks about his mental breakdown, Nigel's blackmail, his failed education and career, and how he's been unable to live due to fear of Ruben's wrath.
Ruben is stunned as he didn't know how bad it was for Niall. He offers to pay off Nigel in exchange for an apology, and both of them apologize for everything and end up hugging.
At that moment, a dead body is wheeled out of the barn. Aghast, Lori runs to the dead body and pulls off the sheet. It is Ruben.
