As the curtains part on the fourth installment of "The Narrow Road to the Deep North," Ella Evans (portrayed by Heather Mitchell) rises from her bed, leaving Dorrigo Evans (embodied by Ciaran Hinds) slumbering peacefully beside her. With a quiet curiosity, she peruses Dorrigo's writings, delving into his thoughts.
Flashing back, a younger Dorrigo (Jacob Elordi) arrives at Amy's (Odessa Young) place, and she urges him to close the door. Whispering hurriedly, she reveals they have but an hour's privacy, as Keith is in town. Passion ensues, clothes are shed, and their desires intertwine. When their lips finally part, Amy hesitates, then confides a secret: she almost carried Keith's child but was uncertain of her love for him. She reveals she terminated the pregnancy and told Keith it miscarried naturally.
Later, Keith (Simon Baker) and Dorrigo embark on a drive. Keith abruptly halts the car, commanding Dorrigo to exit. He reveals the land he's purchased for Amy, dreaming of building her a haven away from the clamor of the pub. Meanwhile, a tender scene unfolds by the water, where Dorrigo and Amy share an intimate moment, their bodies once again entwined, until the sudden barking of a dog interrupts their reverie. Amy hastily dons her clothes.
In a subsequent encounter, Amy discusses business matters with Keith, who asks if she had showered. She confirms, nonchalantly suggesting a lunch outing with Dorrigo the next day. Keith, however, corrects her, announcing they are visiting the Robertsons. He asserts he is not Dorrigo's keeper.
Elsewhere, Dorrigo reads aloud while Amy listens intently. He reveals his impending departure on Wednesday, which prompts Amy's distress. Keith's inquiry into the commotion is met with Amy's claim of a broken plate. Later, Amy and Keith socialize with Elsie (Tahnee Stroet) and Harry Robertson (Paul Gleeson). Elsie casually mentions Carmel's affair with a wealthy lawyer, sparking a debate about love versus material gain.
On their return journey, Keith's demeanor darkens. Confronting Amy about her relationship with Dorrigo, she denies any wrongdoing, insisting their bond is platonic. Reluctantly, Keith seems to accept her word, affirming their relationship's strength. Amy, anxious, phones Dorrigo to inform him that Keith is aware. She urges him to return to Ella, but Dorrigo insists it's too late. Amy persists, pleading with him to leave.
Dorrigo reunites with Ella (Olivia DeJonge), who divulges the surgeon's whereabouts and reassures him of his impending greatness. In the present narrative, Ella informs Dorrigo that the pool attendant will arrive soon. She confides in him that Rick (Dan Wyllie) has revealed their affair, and she plans to stay at Jessica's for the night. Ella admits that Dorrigo's harshness has been the hardest thing he has inflicted upon her.
Flashing back to Dorrigo's time as a prisoner of war, he receives a heartfelt letter from Ella. Frank 'Darky' Gardiner (Thomas Weatherall) hands Dorrigo a needle, just as Major Nakamura (Sho Kasamatsu) seeks his audience. Dorrigo warns Nakamura of a potential blood parasite but underscores cerebral malaria as his primary concern—a condition that, untreated, will lead to brain swelling and seizures. Nakamura, intrigued, asks Dorrigo if he knows about Kintsugi, a craft his wife adores, where broken pottery is mended with gold, rendering it even more beautiful than before. Nakamura entreats Dorrigo to perform a similar restoration upon him.
Elsewhere, Rooster MacNeice (Sam Parsonson) and the others gear up for their day's labor, with Frank designated as the day's leader. On their way to the worksite, Frank slips and injures his foot, prompting Sheephead Morton (Fabian McCallum) to check on him. Frank insists on continuing alone, only to be found later lying on the ground by his fellow soldiers, who urge him to rise. The Goanna and another inmate suggest Frank's uselessness if unable to walk, resulting in his relocation to the sickbay.
Nakamura learns of new orders from the Railway Command Group demanding 100 prisoners to march to the border, a journey he foresees as fatal for many. He is told this is a necessity for the Emperor. Rooster and another inmate tell Frank they've had a reprieve, already counted that morning and not required back until evening parade. Frank protests the injustice, to which Rooster reminds him that fairness is a luxury they cannot afford. Left alone, Frank grapples with his predicament.
Meanwhile, Nakamura is informed that the headcount at the railway is two men short. The Goanna counters, asserting he recounted and everyone is accounted for, adding another layer of intrigue to the unfolding saga.
Colonel Kota (portrayed by Taki Abe) gently but firmly reminds Nakamura of his paramount duty: to oversee the prisoners with diligence. He issues a stern warning, cautioning Nakamura against any actions that might bring dishonor upon him. Frank, after enduring numerous trials, finally returns and finds solace in Dorrigo's assistance. Seeking to uncover the absentee from the day's roster, Nakamura confronts the inmates, yet his inquiries meet with stonewalled silence. Nakamura, visibly ailing, demands to know who led the men today.
Frank confides in Dorrigo, his thoughts drifting back to Nikitaris's Fish Shop, a cherished weekly pilgrimage he once shared with his mother on Fridays. He envisions the fish, helplessly awaiting their fate in the fryer, their plight mirroring the unnatural confines of their fellow prisoners. Frank resolves to liberate those fish upon their return, as an act of defiance and compassion.
However, The Goanna, seizing an opportune moment while Dorrigo's attention is elsewhere, drags Frank away. The soldiers issue threats, promising retribution unless someone steps forward to reveal Frank's intentions. Dorrigo, inadvertently eavesdropping on their cruel taunts, intervenes, explaining Frank's illness in a bid to halt the brutality. Yet, the abuse persists unabated. Nakamura, unmoved, commands the soldiers to seize Frank and intensify their aggression. Frank endures a relentless onslaught, the blows raining down upon him until the heavens open, casting a gloomy rain over the scene.
Dorrigo lies among the others, the sound of Frank's anguished moans echoing outside, a haunting symphony of suffering. Ultimately, Frank's life slips away, possibly claimed by drowning amidst the storm. In the aftermath, Dorrigo tenderly cleans Frank's body, a solemn act of respect and grief. As he finally unseals the letter from Ella, he discovers an article detailing the tragic explosion of two Adelaide hotels, leaving The King of Cornwall in ruins. The words jog his memory, revisiting cherished moments shared with Amy.
The narrative, thus enriched, paints a vivid picture of the harsh realities faced by the characters, their humanity struggling against the backdrop of inhumane conditions.
