Episode 4 of "The Tattooist of Auschwitz" begins with a terse prologue, setting the stage for the horrors that await Lali. Subjected to relentless torture and solitary confinement, he is grilled about the source of his contraband. Despite repeated threats and brutal punches to his face and ribs, Lali remains resolute, refusing to divulge any information.
His tormentor, himself a prisoner, confesses to Lali that he's being cautious with his blows, lest he cause lasting harm. He urges Lali to hold on, warning that revealing any names would seal his fate. The news of Lali's plight reaches Gita, and Leon rushes to her side. Her heart sinks as she reads his grim expression; she knows this is dire.
When the air raid sirens wail and the camp erupts into chaos, Gita steals a moment to sneak over to the desks and search the logs for Lali's whereabouts. She fears he's been chosen for the gas chamber, but the truth is even more ghastly; he's being held in the infamous Block 11 of Auschwitz 1.
In a moment of panic, Gita knocks over an ink marker, but to her surprise, Baretzki, who knows her identity, doesn't betray her when she's discovered by Cilka, the desk clerk. However, the revelation that her parents didn't survive shatters Gita's resolve. She struggles to find meaning in her existence but manages to steel her resolve and plead for Cilka's help.
Cilka, who we first encountered at the start of the episode, appears emotionless as she handles the administration logs, seemingly unaffected by the prisoners' plight. But behind the facade, she drowns her sorrows by the candlelight, burning her hand as a reminder of the harsh reality she endures. She also maintains a sordid relationship with one of the SS officers, a detail not lost on Gita.
Approaching Cilka in the camp, Gita kisses her hand and pleads for help in rescuing her beloved from Block 11. Meanwhile, Lali's torment continues as he's forced to wade through pools of blood in the yard, witnessing the grisly executions of fellow inmates. Shot in the head against a wall in a sick mockery of a firing range, this becomes his final ordeal in Block 11.
Miraculously, Gita manages to free him and bring him back to the barracks. The children flee in terror upon seeing his battered state, and he collapses into the arms of Nadya, his sanctuary amidst the horrors of Auschwitz.
Lali jolted awake to the blaring shouts of Baretzki, his voice echoing through the air. It seemed like a cruel joke, for after enduring a vicious beating, he was granted a day off from his laborious work. Baretzki's tone softened as he instructed Lali to continue smuggling the contraband, but this time with utmost caution. A traitor lurked among them, yet Baretzki swore it wasn't him, even bringing in a child to sway Lali's doubts.
As these revelations unfolded, Heather, present in the moment, felt the weight of it all crash down on her. Her work consumed her, and soon, she succumbed to a panic attack. Struggling to breathe, she gasped for air, prompting Lali to call for an ambulance. At the hospital, her partner advocated for a change of scenery, believing that a fresh start was Heather's only salvation. But the truth was, she merely needed some boundaries, some space to breathe.
She appeared at Lali's doorstep, their shared silence punctuated only by the ticking of a clock. She confessed that she needed time alone, admitting that she had never faced such a daunting task before. The revelations had overwhelmed her, and she feared messing up the story, unable to find the right words. Yet, as a sign of trust, she handed over the first 150 pages of her novel, a testament to her dedication.
Their collaboration carried on with strict ground rules: one phone call a day, maximum, and Heather's freedom to take a break whenever she needed.
Meanwhile, Lali ventured to the administration office to visit Gita. His eye, a ghastly mess, bore witness to the brutality he had endured. Cilka watched silently as a tender moment unfolded before her eyes - a simple, yet profound, exchange of hands. That evening, Gita sought out Cilka, and their conversation turned to love, a forbidden topic in their bleak surroundings. Cilka, her heart heavy with feelings for an SS officer, understood the doom that hovered over their love.
Back at the camp, Lali and Nadya whispered plans for a potential escape from Auschwitz. Lali dreamed of finding an island far away, a place where they could all find solace. His dream came true in Australia, as far from Europe as one could imagine. But Nadya's fate was different. That fateful night, she was taken away, loaded onto a truck with other prisoners, including helpless children.
The next day, a ray of hope seemed to pierce the gloom for the inmates. Gita looked up, her gaze fixed on a plane soaring overhead. Was this the Allied Forces, finally on their way to liberation?
