Episode 5 of Paper Girls commences with our intrepid adventurers stumbling out of a portal and finding themselves on a desolate dock. As the remains of a defunct robot litter the beach, Erin and her companions believe they have achieved their goal... but Larry's heart pounds with unease. He's agitated and frazzled, fearing they may have landed in an unintended era. His fears are soon realized when a purple portal flares open in the sky, signaling their temporal dislocation.
As the children scramble into a mobile home with the older Erin, Larry braces himself to confront the menacing Old Watch. A towering robot emerges from the portal, swiftly overpowering Larry. The others narrowly evade its grasp, but the older Erin decides to lay down her life to safeguard the children. Despite Erin's conviction that another path exists, she remains steadfast. She commandeers the colossal robot, hurling herself into a confrontation with its hulking form. The kids huddle inside the trailer, witnessing Erin dust herself off and prepare to strike back, her familiar mantra "I am going to win" echoing through the air. With a makeshift sword in hand, she lunges forward, but her efforts are futile against the robot's superior strength. In a desperate act, Erin triggers a self-destruct protocol, obliterating both robots and sacrificing her life in the process.
Tiffany ventures out, searching through the rubble while evading drones dispatched by the Old Watch. However, it's too late; the Prioress and the Grandfather have already arrived. Thankfully, the children remain undetected long enough for Tiffany to dash back into the trailer and reveal the gravity of the situation. She warns that the Old Guard intends to erase their memories to keep the Time War a secret.
Gathered in a circle, the four close their eyes as the sky ignites with a pink hue. Yet, their memories remain intact. Consequently, the kids resolve to return home, Tiffany being the sole dissenter. Amidst the ongoing war, she's determined to fight back, armed with a tome that holds the key to all Foldings. It's a guide to every known temporal fold. However, a perplexing revelation dawns on them: they're not in 1988, but rather, 1999!
Heading to a convenience store, the group devises a diversion to procure Tampax for Erin, who has begun her monthly cycle. A substantial segment follows, detailing the girls' learning curve on using these feminine hygiene products.
Once the matter is settled, the kids decide to spend the night at KJ's, as her parents are away at the lake, leaving them unsupervised. They seize this opportunity to regroup and strategize. Upon arrival, however, they encounter an unexpected obstacle: numerous cars outside and a raucous party raging within. Naturally, the kids decide to crash the party and pilfer supplies.
"No black people, big surprise!" Tiffany mutters.
Amidst the chaos, the kids wander through the house, helping themselves to clothes, food, and whatever else they can lay their hands on. KJ discovers that she's a budding filmmaker and a remarkably talented director. She observes from afar as her older self and Lauren share a tender kiss, leaving KJ conflicted and uncertain about how to process the sight.
As KJ steps outside, tensions within the group boil over, culminating in a scuffle between KJ and Mac, and Tiffany deciding to depart. With few other options, Tiffany decides to call her older self, who promptly answers the phone.
