George offers Ellie a plea bargain: 10 years for manslaughter. Katie initially accepts, wanting to end the ordeal. Believing this is a mistake, Ellie takes Katie to tour the State Correctional Institution at Muncy. The warden shows them the dining hall, cell block, and exercise yard, where inmates harass Katie. The grim reality horrifies her, and she rejects the plea.

The night before trial, Ellie practices her opening argument in the barn when Coop arrives. They walk in the orchard, where Coop asks her to move in with him. After they kiss, Ellie returns to chores and finds Sarah crying in the hayloft, blaming herself for letting Katie visit Jacob. Ellie vows to save Katie.

On trial morning, Aaron comes to the car but only to call Sarah back inside, leaving Katie to go without them. At the courthouse, a massive group of reporters swarms them. Ellie pushes through the media frenzy with Katie. In the bathroom, Ellie vomits and dismisses it as food poisoning.

The trial begins before Judge Ledbetter. George delivers his opening statement, portraying Katie as deceptive and arguing she murdered her baby to hide her sins. Ellie counters by acknowledging lawyers’ reputation for dishonesty but positioning Katie as honest. She reframes Katie’s visits to Jacob as acts of family love and argues the Amish would have forgiven an illegitimate pregnancy, eliminating motive. Ellie concludes that being Amish is fundamentally incompatible with murder and promises Katie will testify.

The prosecution calls Detective-Sergeant Lizzie Munro, who testifies about discovering the body, Katie’s denial of pregnancy, and physical evidence linking her to the birth. Lizzie presents the motive: Katie killed the baby to avoid being disowned like her brother Jacob. On cross-examination, Ellie systematically creates doubt, suggesting the footprint could belong to Levi Esch, the hired hand who found the baby, and that Katie’s actions—cutting the cord, cleaning the baby, leaving it where it would be found—contradict those of a murderer.

Dr. Seaborn Blair testifies Katie denied being pregnant at the hospital but concedes his medical findings did not lead him to believe she killed the baby. Medical examiner Dr. Carl Edgerton declares the death a homicide, citing asphyxia from smothering based on bruises and fibers in the infant’s mouth. On cross, Ellie gets him to admit asphyxia has numerous natural causes and the physical evidence could have innocent explanations. She challenges his dismissal of bacteria as contaminants, suggesting a serious infection was missed.

During a recess, Katie becomes anxious about missing the afternoon milking. Ellie unsuccessfully petitions Judge Ledbetter to adjourn early each day. The prosecution calls forensic psychiatrist Dr. Brian Riordan, who testifies Katie perfectly fits the psychological profile for neonaticide. On cross, Ellie introduces the concept of dissociative states, but Riordan counters that the stress of committing murder could also cause one. Ellie gets him to describe neonaticide as reflexive and automatic, undermining the charge of premeditated murder. George rests the prosecution’s case.

At dinner, Ellie loses her temper at the Fishers for calmly discussing a horse auction. Later, based on Ellie’s fatigue, emotional outbursts, and morning sickness, Katie tells Ellie that she is pregnant.

A home pregnancy test confirms Ellie’s pregnancy. She recalls her past struggles with wanting a child with her ex-boyfriend Stephen, realizing their relationship had been dying. The next morning, Katie takes over barn chores and gives Ellie tea bags for breast tenderness. They bond over the shared secret. Katie reveals she feared telling Adam about her pregnancy because it would eliminate all her choices.

Ellie helps Sarah with the chickens, only to watch in horror as Sarah beheads them for dinner. The sight makes Ellie vomit. Coop arrives and reveals he located Adam and persuaded him to fly back from Scotland by telling him he was a father, although he did not mention the baby’s death. Realizing Adam is waiting in the car, Ellie and Coop rush to take him away before he can be seen.

At a diner, Ellie and Coop break the devastating news to Adam. He agrees to delay seeing Katie, understanding their reunion should be a dramatic moment for the jury. Adam asks to visit his son’s grave in the Amish cemetery. While Adam grieves at the new grave, Ellie tells Coop about the pregnancy. After a moment of shock, Coop is overjoyed. On the porch, he proposes marriage. Overwhelmed, Ellie asks for time to adjust to becoming a mother first. That night, Katie asks about Coop’s reaction, and Ellie lets her believe in a perfect romantic version of events while keeping Adam’s return a secret.

On Monday morning, Sarah gives the nauseated Ellie chamomile tea. Samuel joins them for the ride to court, giving her a four-leaf clover for luck.

The defense begins its case. Jacob testifies about his love for Katie and frames her secret visits as attempts to keep their family together. He describes her gentle nature and explains the Amish belief in nonviolence, arguing she is incapable of murder. On cross-examination, George portrays both siblings as liars who selfishly broke family and faith rules, arguing from Jacob’s testimony that Katie’s pragmatism could extend to killing an inconvenient baby.

During a break, Ellie argues with Katie, trying to convince her not to testify, but Katie remains steadfast. Coop expresses concern for Ellie’s well-being; she dismisses it. The defense finally calls Adam to the stand; Katie is shocked. George objects to the late disclosure, but Judge Ledbetter allows the testimony. As Adam is sworn in, Katie breaks down sobbing. Defying the judge’s orders, Adam leaves the witness stand, crosses the courtroom, and kneels to comfort Katie. He testifies about his love for Katie and his absolute belief she would never harm their child. On cross, George suggests Katie planned to dispose of the baby all along.

After his testimony, Ellie arranges for Adam and Katie to speak privately. Katie feels betrayed by Ellie’s tactic, believing the public display cheapened her baby’s memory. Adam and Katie embrace, but he presses her to remember what happened. When she insists she cannot, Katie sees doubt flicker in his eyes and realizes he might believe she is guilty. In the restroom, Adam and Samuel have a tense, silent encounter. Samuel finds Katie in the conference room and comforts her. They walk back into the courtroom hand-in-hand.