Two mountaineers died in an unsuccessful attempt to scale the Choga Sar in the Himalayas. That ill-fated expedition is now the subject of a libel trial. Captain Piers Bowman who led the climb alleged in a TV documentary that the men died as a result of the cowardly and negligent behaviour of fellow climber Dennis Wainwright. Wainwright argues the allegations were false: he behaved completely properly in dreadful conditions and the men's deaths could not have been prevented. He suggests Bowman has made the claims because he is unable to cope with failure and is looking for a scapegoat.

Dr. Abel tells the court about the benefits of oxygen at altitude but refuses to be drawn on Dennis Wainright's case. Capt. Bowman reiterates his accusation of cowardice. He claims that Wainwright lied about Nielsen dying in a fall.