The episode opens at Auschwitz II-Birkenau, with Cilka (Yali Topol Margalith) ordering a female prisoner to get back in line. Refusing to comply, the prisoner pleads to know about her sister. An SS guard shoots her. The prisoner says, “Burn in hell.” Cilka steps over her and resumes her work. Later, she plays with the fire of a burning letter.

In the present, a stressed Heather Morris (Melanie Lynskey) arrives late at Lali Sokolov’s (Harvey Keitel). He suggests postponing their session but she insists on staying.

Auschwitz – Young Lali Sokolov (Jonah Hauer King) is taken to an underground room. Pery Broad (Simon Stache) inspects the items taken from Lali’s room. Giving up the option to live, Lali declines to identify the prisoners stealing from the clothing warehouse. Pery signals Jakub (Dylan Corbett Bader) to beat Lali.

Gita Furmanova (Anna Prochnlak) looks at Leon (Phenix Brossard). He shakes his head no. She tells Bella (Maja Wolska) that she has lost him. Bella tries to reassure her when Cilka scolds them for gossiping for fear they all will be beaten. Stefan Baretzki (Jonas Nay) warns the other guards of Herr Schwarzhuber (Paul Boche) being on the prowl. An alarm sends the guards scattering. Bella and Gita watch Schwarzhuber and Cilka talking. The crematoria is to be shuttered. Gita checks Cilka’s log for Lali’s name. Seeing Cilka approaching, she knocks over what appears to be an ink. Cilka tells Baretzki that Gita was going through her things. Looking at the two of them, he orders Cilka to clean it up.

Jakub tries to clean the blood from Lali’s face. Lali asks what they plan to do with him. Jakub claims to have orders to beat him until he provides names but will kill him if he does because he wants minimal “innocent blood” on his hands. Lali smiles at him. Elsewhere, Gita is working when she sees Schwarzhuber and a small boy talking to Cilka.

Gita cries when she sees Naomi Hoffmanova (Gonny Gaakeer). Naomi complains about the guards taking her shoes. Removing her shoes, Gita gives them to Naomi and asks about her family. Naomi says they never received their passports. Shocked, Gita refuses to believe her but goes off by herself to cry. Later, Ivana comforts Gita while Naomi sings in the dark barracks. The next morning, Ivana (Mili Eshet) and Hanna (Tallulah Haddon) talk about Gefilte fish. Tired of waiting to utilize the toilet, Gita steps out of line, drops her underwear, and urinates in her bowl. Hanna and Ivana warn her that the guards will see her. Gita picks up the bowl and walks away. A short distance away, Naomi is being beaten by a guard. Gita races over to help her up and urges her to be strong. A short time later, she pleads with Cilka to save Lali because she loves him. Cilka says there is no love there, only hate and pain. Gita kisses her hand. Cilka slowly pulls her hand back before entering the administration building.

Jakub takes a beaten and battered Lali to an area where executions are taking place. A female prisoner says, “Rot in hell, Hitler” before an SS guard executes her. Lali weeps while repeatedly saying Gita. Jakub helps him into a wagon. Later, Lali walks through the camp and falls in Nadya’s (Olivia Popica) arms.

Baretzki is twirling Gita’s necklace in his hand before screaming at a sleeping Lali to get up. Laughing, he assures Lali that he is joking and he can stay in his bunk for the rest of the day. Tossing Gita’s necklace on the bunk, Baretzki suggests Lali has friends in high places. Lali says if they knew who reported him, it would be possible to avoid them in the future. Believing Lali thinks he is the rat, Baretzki grabs a Gypsy boy and orders Lali to swear on his life that he trusts him. Lali swears to trust him. Satisfied, Baretzki releases the boy and orders Lali to get back in bed. When Lali grabs his tattooist bag, Baretzki questions if Gita would want to see him in his condition.

In the present, Heather has a panic attack while Lali tells his story. He calls for an ambulance. Later at the hospital, Heather tells Yoska (Kevin Fukas) that she had a panic attack. He says it is no wonder with her hectic schedule and Lali’s book. She reminds him that Lali’s story is not about her and making so would be an insult.

After a bit of rest, Heather returns to Lali’s. She questions her writing ability before giving him a 150-page transcript of his novel. She sets down some ground rules and they agree to continue.

Auschwitz – Baretzki escorts Lali to the administration building. Surprised to see him, Gita walks over to replenish his tattooist supplies. Gita and Lali sensually touch hands. After he and Baretzki leave, Gita turns to look at Cilka who doesn’t look up from her paperwork. Later, Cilka questions what it feels like to kiss someone you love. Pointing at her heart, she tells Gita that it is where she lives and will release her when it is safe.

In the present, Lali tells Heather that Cilka was charged with collaborating and transferred from the camp to a Siberian jail where she stayed for 10 years.

Auschwitz – Gita and Cilka smile at Schwarhuber playing with his son. Later, Gita informs Naomi that she will start working with her tomorrow. Ramona thanks her. Marta (Avital Lvova) shoves Ramona out of the way and motions for Gita to follow her. Gita finds Lali waiting in Marta’s room. He confesses to love her. She tells him about her parents being taken. She kisses his battered body. They get intimate.

Lali is awakened by a loud commotion outside. Outside, the Gypsies are forced onto trucks. Those who resist are beaten. He pleads with a guard to not take the women and children. The guard threatens to shoot him if he doesn’t back off. Devastated, he watches a truck with Nadya drive away. The next day, Gita sees an airplane flying above the camp. The episode ends.

 

The Tattooist Of Auschwitz Review

Lali is on the verge of being executed for refusing to give up the prisoners stealing from the clothing warehouse. Fearing for his life, Gita asks Cilka to ask Schwarzhuber to spare his life. Cilka is reluctant to get involved but when she sees how much Gita loves Lali, she changes her mind.

Baretzki denies turning Lali in. Sensing Lali doesn’t believe him, he threatens to kill a young Gypsy boy if he doesn’t swear on his life that he believes him. Gita asks Cilka why she did it. Cilka tells her that she lives in her heart and will let herself go once it is safe. She spends 10 years in a Siberian prison for collaborating with the prisoners.

Nadya and the other Gypsies are rounded up after dark and removed from the camp. She was later executed.

 

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