Contains spoilers for this episode.
Orders arrive for an attack at dawn, and Blackadder tries to escape by pretending to be mad. Underpants on his head and pencils in his nostrils seem promising until Melchett reveals that he has already punished an entire platoon for using the trick. Edmund hurriedly presents his behaviour as a story for Baldrick. George refuses an offer to return to headquarters with the general, still expecting the coming advance to bring victory.
As the night passes, memories of dead companions weaken George's confidence. Blackadder remembers that Field Marshal Haig owes him a favour and plans a final telephone appeal. Elsewhere, Melchett gives Darling a frontline commission as a supposed kindness, dismissing the staff captain's desperate objections. At dawn, Haig's promised assistance turns out to be the same underpants-and-pencils disguise that has already failed. Darling joins the trench, admits his hopes of returning to work and marrying Doris, and shares the others' fear.
The bombardment stops and briefly makes the men think peace has arrived. Blackadder explains that their guns have fallen silent so the infantry can advance. Baldrick offers one last plan, but there is no time to hear it. Edmund wishes everyone luck and leads the charge as machine-gun fire begins. The advance slows into the final battlefield images, which fade into a peaceful field of poppies. The ending offers no further escape, leaving the men last seen going over the top.