In the present day, Joseph Cataldo informs Michelle and her parents that he can’t get the case against Michelle dismissed; there’s too much evidence. Michelle wants to testify, maintaining that the jury needs to hear her love story.
Cataldo advises her against this. To try and dissuade her, he has her read some of her incriminating texts to Conrad aloud in front of her parents. Hearing their daughter read, “Why don’t you just drink bleach?” inevitably changes their perception of her. But her mom is still on her side. ..
Katie Rayburn, meanwhile, asks that Lynn testify in front of a jury for their case. She warns her that the defense will try to make Conrad’s suicide look like his father’s fault.
Susie Adams, a high school student, tells her parents that she has fallen out of touch with her best friend, Michelle. Susie’s parents ask Susie to show them any notes or messages that Michelle might have left for Susie. Susie says she has never seen any such notes. ..
The police detectives took the notes and records of Michelle’s text messages as evidence in their investigation into her relationship with Conrad. They believed that Michelle’s actions toward Conrad were an attempt to get Susie’s attention.
Michelle is struggling at home and school. She has a sister who doesn’t care about her, classmates who don’t believe her, and one student who tells her that rumors will fade and that he doesn’t believe any of the ones about her.
In a flashback, we see Michelle drop off a note in Susie’s car, then go back home. Michelle eats chocolate until she throws up. She later texts Conrad about her binge-eating and issues with her body image. She thinks she needs to go somewhere to get help. ..
Michelle tells Conrad she had feelings for Susie and once thought Susie felt the same. Conrad asks if she still loves her, and she says she doesn’t know. But she sees a future with Conrad. ..
Dr. Peter Breggin, a doctor who treated Michelle Cataldo, testified on her behalf before the jury today. He said that the medications she was taking could have influenced her behavior and that he wanted to speak on her behalf before the court.
After telling Rayburn about his assault on Conrad, Co goes to Lynn and tells her what happened. She is angry that she was told about the attack by Co, and she blames him for Conrad’s death.
One night, Gail comes to Michelle to say that her grandma died. Around the same time, Rob hooks Conrad up with a girl at a party. Conrad uncomfortably has sex with her. Afterwards, he calls his mom; she picks him up. ..
He tells her he doesn’t want to go to school anymore, that he can work with dad full time. She asks if he needs help. All he needs, he says, is for her and his dad to just give him a break.
The judge in the case limits the scope of the investigation to 18 months before Conrad’s passing. This means he won’t allow Susie Pierce to testify.
This is a blow to the two members of Congress who believe that Michelle Obama was trying to get the attention of her other friends as well. “We make all her friends Susie,” Rayburn says.
Conrad attends the funeral of Michelle’s grandmother, making it the second time they have met face to face. Michelle skips the reception to go out with him. They meet at an empty baseball field at night. After playing an imaginary game, they lay in the field together.
They muse about death. He asks what she would say at his funerals. She would declare that theirs “was an epic love story.” They later kiss, and Conrad takes out a condom, but Michelle isn’t ready to have sex.
In 2015, Michelle gets ready for prom despite her mom’s reservations. She goes with Aidan, but imagines she’s dancing with Conrad. She eventually starts crying and leaves.
She runs on the treadmill at home to stay in shape, something she used to do when she struggled with her body image. ..
The Episode Review
The Girl From Plainville has been adapted from a true story, but it seems that the series has overestimated the amount of adaptable material it has. This is evident by the midway point of the series, which feels like it is running out of ideas. ..
The mystery surrounding Michelle’s supposed romance with Susie continues to baffle onlookers. Some say the two are in a serious relationship, while others believe Michelle is using Susie for her own gain. Whatever the truth may be, the intrigue around Susie’s involvement adds an extra layer of intrigue to the case. ..
This episode doesn’t really take us much deeper into the Michelle/Conrad story or shed much more light on any important characters. Rather, it slows and drags out its minimal plot. ..
