Since jury selection took so long, Judge Carrington adjourns court for the day. Rusty worries the jury will have too long to ponder Jackdorp’s case, but he can improve his statement in the meantime. An officer takes Aaron back to jail, and Rusty meets with Susan, his assistant. Rusty returns to the small house he and Bea rented in Portage. Bea worries that Jackdorp’s case is too compelling, and Rusty reminds her that circumstantial evidence can fit different stories. Rusty reassures Bea of Aaron’s innocence, and they embrace. The intimacy and comfort in their relationship have cooled, and both Rusty and Bea have changed physically since Aaron’s arrest.

In the middle of the night, Bea wakes Rusty, having suddenly remembered that she placed the rope in the garage. Rusty thinks Bea is lying for Aaron, and he knows Jackdorp will think the same. Bea is adamant that she’d never lie, and Rusty senses their relationship is irrevocably changed.

Rusty addresses his opening statement to the jury. A consultant helped determine the kinds of jurors who would be most sympathetic to Aaron. Rusty begins by discrediting the fiber evidence, explaining that fiber analysis can’t conclusively determine the source of fibers. Rusty also counters Jackdorp’s footprint metaphor with his metaphor about stars and interpreting constellations. Rusty describes Aaron and Mae’s turbulent relationship, but he asserts that Aaron truly loved Mae. Rusty apologizes for the unsavory things he’ll say about Mae, who had many enemies. Rusty urges the jury to notice the investigation’s tunnel vision.

Rusty then describes the stipulation Jackdorp will read, which includes facts that both parties agree on. Rusty agrees that Aaron owned Nike Air Force 1s, which made shoe impressions at the campsite, but he refutes Jackdorp’s claim that the partial impressions at Ginawaban are from the same shoes. Air Force 1s are the most popular brand of shoes, and to demonstrate this fact, a juror admits that he’s even wearing Air Force 1s.

For the obstruction of justice charge, Rusty describes how Aaron went to Ginawaban thinking Mae’s death was an accident, and he didn’t learn her death was changed to murder until his arrest. Jackdorp didn’t mention any specific evidence that Aaron tampered with because there was none. Rusty concludes his statement and thanks the jury for their service. Judge Carrington recesses for lunch, and Rusty speaks briefly with Aaron. Rusty reflects on his reinvigorating return to court.

Jackdorp calls Charmaine as the first witness, and she cries immediately. Charmaine recounts Mae’s childhood and relationship with Aaron. Mae told Charmaine about Aaron’s proposal, and Charmaine tearfully recalls the last time she saw Mae. She identifies some of Mae’s belongings and recounts her abrupt interaction with Aaron when he returned Mae’s phone. Jackdorp emphasizes that Aaron didn’t ask to see Mae as usual.

Rusty opens with condolences. Rusty has Charmaine explain where Mae usually parks to show that Aaron knew Mae wasn’t at home. Rusty then asks if Aaron ever hurt Mae, but Charmaine needs time to think. Rusty prods her memory with an interview transcript where Charmaine stated Aaron was never violent. Rusty returns to the proposal conversation. Mae claimed Aaron proposed, and Charmaine vehemently disapproved. Rusty establishes that Mae often lied to soften the blow of troubling news, implying that Mae was the one who proposed to Aaron. Charmaine agrees that Mae’s bad behavior was getting worse, and a psychiatrist diagnosed her with borderline personality disorder.

Rusty asks if her illness, mixed with her drug use, made Mae suicidal, and Jackdorp finally objects. Charmaine accuses Rusty of trying to sully Mae’s name. While Rusty thinks of a response, Aaron hands Rusty a written question. Rusty asks Charmaine if Aaron loved Mae, despite her faults, and Charmaine reluctantly agrees.

Cassity is the next witness. Jackdorp leads Cassity through introductory questions until Cassity explains her conversation with Aaron about his plans to camp with Mae after she proposed to him. Cassity next spoke with Aaron when he said he was hitchhiking home, and then, when he explained why he left Mae. When Mae didn’t return, Aaron thought she was being dramatic to get attention. Aaron went to Cassity’s when Mae’s body was found, where they cried together. Aaron didn’t tell her he planned to go to Ginawaban.

In his cross-examination, Rusty establishes that Jackdorp tried to prevent Cassity from talking to the defense. Cassity elaborates on her conversations with Aaron, like when he said he accidentally hitchhiked the wrong way at first. She then explains that Mae used to be her close friend. Aaron and Mae both talked about their breakups, but neither ever mentioned violence. Cassity adds anecdotes about Aaron’s nonviolent temperament. She explains that Aaron and Mae often went camping together, and Aaron frequently went on his own. Aaron told Cassity to be honest with the police when they asked about Mae’s disappearance.

Judge Carrington allows Rusty to discuss Mae’s propensity for making people angry. Cassity describes how Mae could be intentionally cruel. Once, Mae hired Cassity to make hundreds of Christmas ornaments, but when Cassity finished the laborious task, Mae didn’t want them and refused to reimburse Cassity. Cassity also recalls when Mae blackmailed her father with his scandalous text messages so she could move to New York.

Aaron tells Rusty to ask about his backpack, but Jackdorp objects to the hearsay. On his redirect, Jackdorp scolds Cassity for not revealing this information to the prosecution, but she says they didn’t ask. When Cassity leaves the stand, she quietly jokes with Rusty that she’s smart enough to lie.

Rusty commends Cassity’s testimony and apologizes for pressing about Hardy’s scandal. Cassity is relieved she didn’t go into detail, since the facts could embarrass Aaron. Cassity brushes off Rusty’s concern. Rusty returns to the courtroom to tell Judge Carrington that the prosecution hasn’t handed over their investigation notes. Jackdorp claims he released the Brady-compliant notes—notes with relevant defense information—but Judge Carrington orders Jackdorp to produce them all.

Rusty visits Aaron and sees Bea, who asks to talk later about the case. Rusty notes that Aaron doesn’t seem fazed by the trial. Rusty knows Aaron’s experience in Marenago County jail has been relatively good, since Aaron has befriended fellow inmates by drawing portraits of their loved ones. Rusty still knows very little about Aaron, aside from when Aaron speaks about art. Rusty asks Aaron about the rope. Aaron claims that he left the rope he bought at the campsite, and Bea left the other rope in the garage, which is what she just told him. Rusty worries Aaron is lying, but Aaron promises he’s telling the truth.

To Rusty, Aaron has always been a sad, solitary child, and he suspects Aaron used drugs to ease his loneliness. Aaron finally found a true connection with Mae. These intense feelings could be a motive for murder, but Rusty buries these thoughts.

Bea sends Susan home so she and Rusty can talk. Bea wishes Aaron didn’t talk about their conversation, which only makes Rusty more suspicious that she and Aaron are lying. Bea broaches her real concern: Rusty’s theory about Hardy. Rusty doesn’t truly believe Hardy killed Mae, but it’s the best theory to throw suspicion away from Aaron.

Bea presses Rusty about whether he’ll subpoena the text messages, and her insistence worries him. Bea confesses that Rusty will find sexual messages between her and Hardy from years ago, since they’ve had a sexual affair in the years after high school. She stopped seeing Hardy when she married Lloyd but started back up during their divorce. Bea felt sorry for Hardy and was addicted to their uninhibited sex life. The relationship gave excitement to her dull rural life. Bea always dismissed Hardy’s declarations of love and never thought Aaron suspected the affair.

Bea admits that she was still seeing Hardy before she moved in with Rusty. She was afraid to let the relationship go, especially if she and Rusty didn’t work out, but she has since completely cut Hardy off. This information doesn’t soften the blow, and Rusty quarrels about her deceit. Rusty asks Bea to move out so he can focus on his work. He half-heartedly promises to try forgiving her, and Bea leaves sobbing. Rusty startles himself awake in the night, as his mind unconsciously wanders to thoughts of Bea as Mae’s murderer.

Rusty learns more about Jackdorp’s background, like how his wife died young from breast cancer, and how Jackdorp lives an extremely antisocial life. Jackdorp calls Joe to the stand as an adverse witness. Jackdorp establishes that Joe bought Aaron’s Nike shoes and lent him his truck when Mae’s body was discovered. Joe’s adlibs throw Jackdorp off, but he successfully catches Joe contradicting himself. Joe claims that Aaron loved Ginawaban, and Jackdorp concludes his questioning.

Rusty has Joe explain his history as a farm worker, veteran, and union leader, which connects with the jury. Joe describes Aaron’s adoption, their time together in Aaron’s youth, and Aaron’s love of being alone in the outdoors. The truck Aaron borrowed already contained some of Joe’s farm supplies, like the shovel, gloves, and dolly. Joe confesses that he loves Aaron enough to lie for him, but the jury appears smitten with his candor. When Joe gets off the stand, he says he tried to make Aaron look as good as possible.