The fifth episode of Our Flag Means Death's second season commences with Ed addressing the crew, acknowledging his wrongs and expressing gratitude for their second chance. He even vows to wear a cat bell around his neck, ensuring he cannot sneak up undetected. He assures them that his past misdeeds are now mere memories. A fresh flag unfurls on the deck, signaling a return to routine, yet Lucius remains agitated, hung up on Ed's failure to utter the words, "I'm sorry."
Alone with Stede, Ed urges him to embrace his role as a captain, commanding with authority. Stede, in turn, orders Ed to contribute and lend a hand. True to his word, Ed pitches in, even fixing a stubborn door latch. However, Lucius remains unimpressed, offering Ed a chance to redeem himself by allowing Lucius to push him overboard, hoping it would soothe his anger. Lucius agrees.
Stede chances upon Izzy, who is honing his swordsmanship on his new leg, still outshining Stede's feeble attempts. Acknowledging that Izzy is the one who shaped Ed into a capable captain, Stede begs for similar tutelage. Surprisingly, Izzy agrees to train him. A brief montage reveals the struggle, as Stede struggles to keep up.
Lucius indeed pushes Ed overboard, but the satisfaction is fleeting. Dangling precariously from the ship's side, Ed encounters Fang, who is venturing out on a dinghy for a fishing expedition. Curious, Ed joins him.
Izzy is baffled by Stede's ineptitude, wondering how he has survived this long. Stede explains that in dire situations, his body instinctively takes charge. Unexpectedly, they come across another ship, and Stede's pirate instincts awaken. They board only to find a gruesome scene, with everyone aboard slaughtered. A giant pentagram is etched on the deck. Stede and Jim make their way to the captain's quarters, where a dying priest warns them of the ship's curse, gesturing to the various objects in the room.
Jim flees, but Stede's eyes are drawn to a striking red jacket. He tries it on, and just as Izzy advises them to move on, a figure emerges from a hidden door, wielding a knife. Instinctively, Stede neutralizes the threat with a single punch.
Back on The Revenge, the crew celebrates Stede's acquisition, but Jim insists that the jacket is cursed. Izzy warns Stede to heed the superstitions that sail the seas with them.
Black Pete poses gracefully for Lucius' canvas, yet he senses a lack of focus from his subject. Irritated, he snatches Lucius' notebook, revealing drawings of flowers, dogs, even Black Pete himself, all bearing a striking resemblance to Ed's face. Black Pete reproaches Lucius for fixating solely on his near-death encounter, overlooking the miracle of survival.
Jim, Olu, and Archie huddle behind a line of salt, adorned with garlic necklaces. As Stede peeks in, they shriek and ward him off with the sacred sign of the cross. Frenchie dares to sample one of Roach's latest creations, dubbed "Peanut Paste." Stede stops by to observe his "men of science," but their experiment is cut short when Frenchie's skin turns red and itchy. This confirmation of Stede's curse sends them into a frenzy.
Out at sea, Ed confronts Fang, inquiring if he had been a jerk. Fang concedes the truth. Ed辩解, claiming he was merely assertive. He reminisces about a game they played called knife parade, a game they once enjoyed, but reveals he had misinterpreted Fang's screams as joyful laughter. Ed then queries Fang on how he overcame his behavior. Fang reveals that he expelled all his emotions while roughhousing with Ed.
Izzy realizes that Lucius is still grappling with his trauma. He reasons that it's better to imagine his leg was taken by a shark, a mere figment of his imagination, than to remain stagnant in the past.
Stede valiantly attempted to rationalize his stance against the crew's deep-seated superstition, yet they remained steadfast in their conviction that the attire was a devil's suit, prompting a furious assault. Ed, baffled and remorseful, confessed his confusion on how to begin rectifying the situation. Fang, with a wise grin, suggested that Ed, fond of his own eloquence, should seek solace in silence while they fished.
Now clad only in a vibrant red shirt, Stede addressed his crew, informing them he had set aside the cursed suit and was determined to dispose of it. How, though? The consensus was to pass it on to another. And as fate would have it, another ship soon appeared on the horizon. Swiftly, Stede and his crew subdued the rival crew's members.
Amidst the celebrations of their triumph, a sneaky sailor tried to sneak up on Stede from behind, but the captain was vigilant, spun around, and fired a warning shot, leaving Izzy in awe. With a decisive gesture, Stede handed the dreaded red suit to one of his crew members, and the group departed.
Onboard The Revenge, Lucius revealed a massive portrait of Pete on a ship's wall. With a heartfelt declaration, he expressed his wish to spend the rest of his life with Pete and knelt before him. Pete, overcome with emotion, eagerly accepted.
Later, Ed proudly presented Stede with the fruit of his time spent with Fang - a solitary fish. He complimented Stede's red shirt, and the captain recounted the tale of the cursed suit. Ed remarked that Stede indeed wore fine things well, echoing a similar sentiment Stede had once expressed under the moonlit sky. This time, however, Ed leaned in closer, and their lips met in a tender kiss. Stede returned the affection, and Ed gently asked if they could take their relationship at a slower pace. Hand in hand, they smiled as they continued to relish their day's adventures.
