The fifth episode of Heweliusz begins with a poignant flashback, casting us back to the night before the fateful accident. Kaczkowski, a contract truck driver, prepares to depart for the ship, bidding a heartfelt farewell to his wife, Anita, and son, Alek. As he arrives at his company's military base, he is astounded by the sheer volume of weapons being loaded onto the ferry.
In the present day, Anita takes the stand before the panel of judges, her voice trembling with unspoken anguish. Kubara probes if her husband ever mentioned the ship, but Ignacy interjects, halting him from dragging Anita into negative remarks about the crew. She boldly exposes the lies of those who claimed her husband's survival, revealing that a military officer pressured her to bear false witness. When Piotr questions her about the weapons, she departs the room, and Alek escorts her home.
The panel then turns its attention to the toxicology expert, who testifies that one crew member had a slight amount of alcohol in their system. Ignacy argues this insignificance and asserts that no alcohol was found in Ułasiewicz's body.
Next up is Ferenc, who claims Ułasiewicz's medical records indicate he was unfit to drive and that sailing under such conditions posed a risk to lives. He blames the crew's medical issues for the accident.
During the break, Kubara warns Piotr to back off, while Piotr confides in his father, who counsels him to side with the powerful if he wants to survive. Later, Piotr shares this wisdom with Jola and Ignacy, revealing that the real cause was the steep turn taken by the ship.
Witek takes the stand at the hearing, detailing how Heweliusz couldn't handle the winds and the turn. The judges accuse him of being an alcoholic, but Ignacy objectively defends him. Kubara claims Ułasiewicz was asleep and left an inexperienced Witek in charge. Witek remains silent, his eyes clouded with a mix of sorrow and guilt.
Following the hearing, Piotr's relentless determination forces Witek to divulge the truth, urging him to scrutinize the audio recordings from the fateful night. As Piotr listens, he discovers that Ułasiewicz was compelled to steer the ship to avert a collision with a German vessel. He vows to present this incriminating evidence to Ignacy the next day.
However, the next morning, Piotr is nowhere to be found. It is later revealed that he met his tragic end in a car crash, deliberately orchestrated the night before. Jola, shattered by the news, loses all hope of victory.
As Jola recalls her final conversation with her husband before Heweliusz's departure from port, Ułasiewicz learns of the military trucks weighing more than what was listed, and he refuses to transport the excess. Despite storm warnings, the harbour office grants him clearance to set sail. The ship sets off unscathed at first, but that night, as Ułasiewicz rests, a different fate awaits.
Back in court, Ignacy argues that pinning the blame on one individual is unjust, as multiple factors contributed to the tragedy. A flashback reveals the ship listing and its near-collision with a small vessel. Witek manages to slow it down, and Ułasiewicz rushes to the bridge, ordering a left turn to safeguard the German ship. But the equipment fails, and he transmits the distress signal.
Ignacy insists that various factors contributed to the capsizing, including the need to avoid the German vessel. Kubara demands evidence, but Ignacy reveals it was consumed by Piotr's fateful car crash. A month later, the court holds Ułasiewicz accountable, with Pyzel adding that both the ship's defects and the company's negligence played a part. However, the judge still lays blame on the crew.
Witek attempts suicide but is saved by a fellow sailor. Aga reunites with Jola, who takes her home. As the episode concludes, Anita, now a mother again, meets Jola on the street.
