Finis Terræ

Four fishermen set up camp on the islet of Bannec to harvest seaweed. They burn ash in large piles, hoping to sell it at high prices. The isolation of the island and the harsh rhythms of the coast bind them to a long and arduous routine.

Ambroise and Jean-Marie clash when Ambroise drops Jean-Marie's only bottle of wine. The quarrel sharpens tensions between the two youngest fishermen. Ambroise cuts his thumb on a shard of glass, worsening the mood.

Ambroise begins to feel weak as his thumb becomes infected. He chooses not to reveal the worsening injury, hoping to avoid spotlight from the others. The other men misread his silence as laziness and immaturity.

Driven by fever and worry, Ambroise decides to sail to Ushant to seek medical help. The voyage is thwarted by low wind and a strong current, preventing the boat from making progress. On the return leg, Ambroise collapses on the beach, exhausted and in pain.

People on Ushant notice that only a single plume rises from Bannec, sparking concern among fishermen and families. They urge the island doctor to go as soon as the tide permits. The coming tide becomes the window for a rescue.

The other fishermen discover Ambroise collapsed on the beach and carefully carry him back to the camp. They lay him down and prepare to tend the wound and the feverish state. The discovery shifts the camp's focus from routine harvest to urgent medical care.

Jean-Marie finds his knife and realizes his harsh judgment of Ambroise was unfair. He resolves to push for urgent help and to take Ambroise to Ushant himself if needed. He tries to rally the others, but tempered winds block any immediate departure.

With care, Jean-Marie carries Ambroise toward the boat, keeping him conscious despite the strain. They push toward Ushant, hoping to reach a doctor despite limited wind. The voyage is tense and driven by sheer will.

Back on Ushant, the island doctor gathers volunteers and sets out by boat to reach Bannec. The mission aims to save Ambroise from the swelling infection. The group faces the same dangerous sea and uncertain weather.

A dense fog makes navigation perilous for both boats, limiting visibility to a few yards. As they approach within sight, Jean-Marie recognizes the doctor's vessel and signals for help. The two rescue parties maneuver cautiously, hoping to converge.

The doctor boards Jean-Marie's vessel and performs a quick, decisive lancing of the infected thumb to relieve the infection. He then directs the boat toward Ushant with Ambroise in care. The patient is brought ashore and placed in bed for rest.

Jean-Marie visits Ambroise and offers quiet, steady care during recovery. The doctor receives a message about a sick man on the far side of the island and sets off to help him. The thread of rescue reveals how far the crisis has stretched across the community.