Ah Boys to Men 4

The film opens with Singapore suffering a massive invasion, landmarks attacked, and countless civilians caught in the chaos. It is later revealed that this is a fictional war-based role-playing game rather than a real event, played by Ken Chow. The scale of destruction establishes the high-stakes atmosphere of the story.

Ken is anxious about his mandatory National Service and hopes to study abroad with his girlfriend Amy. NS looms over him and his plans, heightening his vulnerability. After Amy chides him for his childishness, he vents his frustration and is apprehended by two policemen in front of Amy.

Ken confides to his parents about his fears of NS and how it might derail his life. His mother tries to help defer his service, but the plan fails. The family braces for the difficult days ahead as Ken prepares to leave for enlistment.

The Chow family bids Ken farewell on the day of recruitment. Ken and other recruits are assigned to Ninja Company, shown to their bunk, and introduced to their Platoon Sergeant. The initial glimpse of military life hints at the challenges to come.

Ken meets his fellow recruits Lobang, Aloysius Jin Sia-lan, and I.P. Man. The recruits make simple, goofy mistakes during their initial training, illustrating their inexperience. The dynamic within Ninja Company begins to take shape.

After two weeks of basic training, the recruits settle into the routine and push through the tougher exercises. They continue to make mistakes but slowly gain competence and camaraderie. The pressure of NS mounts as the training intensifies.

Ken is allowed to book out for the first time, and his family throws a lavish party to celebrate. His mood wavers when he sees a photo of Amy with another man, deflating his excitement. The slice of civilian life clashes with his military reality.

Amy reveals she has fallen for another man and dumps Ken at a highway confrontation. Devastated, Ken resolves to win her back and clings to a plan to escape or prove himself to her. The heartbreak marks a turning point in his mindset.

Determined to regain Amy's affection, Ken devises an escape from Pulau Tekong. He begins a dangerous sequence: reducing his water intake and trying to provoke a heat injury, then sleeping under a ceiling fan after dousing himself with cold water. His risky behavior endangers his health and future in NS.

Ken collapses during training due to heat stress and is rushed to hospital. His father is alerted and drives to the hospital, weighed down by worry and guilt as the situation deteriorates.

On the way to the hospital, Ken's father suffers a stroke while driving and collides with another vehicle in a shocking turn of events. The accident compounds the family's pain, underscoring the ripple effects of Ken's actions. Ken learns the seriousness of his choices and the impact on his loved ones.

Ken wakes up in a hospital ward surrounded by his two sisters, realizing how his foolish attempts have caused problems for many people. He feels unable to face his father, who remains recuperating in another ward. The moment marks a shift towards accepting responsibility.

Ken recuperates and is deemed fit to go back to training, signaling the start of a renewed, more mature phase of NS. The film ends at this junction, with snippets of the next part teased.