As the rescue mission begins, Katniss is overwhelmed by the possibility of losing both Gale and Peeta. Haymitch refuses to let Katniss join the operation because she is too valuable and emotionally unstable, but he finds another way for Katniss to help: she and Finnick can film new material to distract the Capitol while the rescue unfolds. Katniss wakes Finnick despite his fragile state, and he steadies her by insisting that, by the end of the day, they will finally know whether the captives are dead or free.

Above ground, Katniss asks Cressida to interview her about Peeta. Instead of performing anger, Katniss finally speaks openly about how Peeta saved her life with the burned bread when she was eleven. She admits that Peeta’s suffering has ended her hesitation about destroying the Capitol and publicly tells Snow that she now understands the Capitol’s weakness: it depends entirely on the districts. Katniss declares herself free, turning Snow’s attempt to break her into a statement of rebellion.

Plutarch then has Finnick take Katniss’s place before the camera. Finnick reveals that President Snow prostituted victors he considered desirable and used threats against their loved ones to force compliance. He explains that he collected secrets from powerful Capitol clients, then uses those secrets to expose corruption, abuse, and scandal among Capitol elites. Finally, Finnick accuses Snow of building and maintaining power through poison, describing a history of suspicious deaths and suggesting that Snow’s roses hide the smell of blood from chronic mouth sores caused by his own poisonings.

After filming, Katniss speaks with Haymitch, who says Snow killed Haymitch’s family and girlfriend soon after his victory so Snow would have no leverage left to use against him. Katniss and Finnick then endure a long, silent wait while Beetee hijacks the Capitol broadcast and uses their footage to hold attention during the rescue. When Beetee finally surrenders the airwaves, he explains the complicated plan to extract the prisoners from an underground facility with the help of rebel insiders, gas, blackout tactics, and the broadcast disruption.

Late that night, Haymitch brings Katniss and Finnick to the hospital. Katniss sees Johanna brought in horribly abused and catches sight of Gale alive, though wounded. Finnick is reunited with Annie, and Boggs reports that the team rescued everyone except Enobaria. Overjoyed, Katniss goes to Peeta’s room expecting a happy reunion, but when Peeta wakes and sees her, he rushes forward and wraps his hands around Katniss’s throat instead of embracing her.