Rusty calls Glowoski back to the stand to comment on a different Brady violation. Rusty presents a note about a tip from Akylles Parrish, a trucker who claimed he gave Aaron a lift near Harold’s Woods. Glowoski admits she knew about the tip but didn’t follow up because Parrish had a felony conviction, albeit from 32 years prior. Rusty establishes that Glowoski also learned that Parrish was Black. Truckers keep digital logs of their journeys, so it would’ve been simple to corroborate his claim. Rusty suspects Glowoski had a working theory about Aaron’s guilt, so she didn’t want any contradictory evidence. She also didn’t inform the defense of this call. Glowoski decided with Hardy behind the scenes.

Rusty pushes Glowoski to describe her close relationship with Hardy, but Susan stops him, since Glowoski helped Mark Potter’s widow and children after he died in Afghanistan. Rusty drops the subject but establishes that Glowoski kept Hardy close to the investigation. While Rusty and Susan confer, Glowoski defends her claim that Parrish had nothing of substance to say. When Glowoski steps down, Rusty calls Akylles Parrish to the stand.

Akylles Parrish explains his felony conviction, which was for armed robbery with a toy gun. Parrish pled guilty at 19, and after serving time in prison and keeping a clean record, the conviction was expunged. Parrish learned to drive heavy equipment, which led to a lifelong career in truck driving.

Parrish identifies Aaron and claims he picked him up near Harold’s Woods at noon. Aaron warned Parrish that he smelled bad because Mae peed on his backpack, and he told Parrish about Mae. After half an hour, Aaron checked a map on his phone and learned he was going the wrong direction. He took a short call from Mae before he left the truck to head south. Parrish warned Aaron that people in Marenago wouldn’t pick up a Black hitchhiker. Parrish explains the Electronic Logging Device, which tracks a truck’s data. Rusty presents the data that corroborates Parrish’s story. Parrish keeps a backlog of his data, and when he saw Aaron’s picture in the paper, he thought the data would be important. He called in the tip, and the trooper told him to keep the records, though no one followed up until he spoke to Susan.

Jackdorp asks Parrish if he thinks Marenago is racist, and Parrish agrees, which is why he gave Aaron the warning. Jackdorp asks if Parrish is testifying to protect a Black man from the law, but Parrish claims he only wants to tell the truth. Jackdorp emphasizes that Parrish is a felon, so his testimony can be disregarded, but Judge Carrington isn’t sure that holds for those with expungements.

Rusty asks to speak with one more witness, Lainie Harrup, before lunch. Jackdorp thinks he’s being blindsided, since Rusty listed Lainie’s name as it appeared in initial reports, as Elaine Harop. Judge Carrington calls a quick recess so the lawyers can talk, but Rusty points Jackdorp to his reports. Rusty convinced Lainie to travel from Jefferson, Missouri, by claiming her testimony could save Aaron’s life.

On the stand, Lainie claims that Missouri State Police asked about a call she made in September to a young man, and they showed her a picture of Aaron. Lainie didn’t remember the call, but she assumed it was one of her misdials while she tried to find accommodations. Lainie couldn’t access her phone records because she switched providers, but the police took her word. She tried to get the records for court, but they take months to process.

The rest stop Lainie and her husband stopped at was near the exit to Ginawaban. Lainie interacted with a young woman, whom she positively identifies as Mae. Lainie recalls that Mae seemed upset and was possibly under the influence of drugs. Mae used Lainie’s cellphone to make a call, and from Mae’s look of surprise, Lainie figured the other person hung up on her. Mae dialed more numbers and sped away after giving the phone back. Jackdorp claims that Lainie couldn’t possibly make a positive identification after six months, but Lainie is certain the woman was Mae.

Judge Carrington sends the jury home but keeps Jackdorp and Rusty behind. Rusty promises to notify Jackdorp immediately about Aaron’s decision to testify, and the group goes over the remaining logistics. Rusty gives his car to Al so he can drive Lainie to the airport. Lainie’s testimony cleared his last doubts about Aaron’s innocence.

Rusty visits Jackdorp’s office to pick up some files. He asks Jackdorp if he’d be willing to drop the case, since the prosecution’s theory is falling apart. Jackdorp and Rusty go back and forth over the facts. Jackdorp appears unusually friendly, and Rusty suspects Jackdorp no longer feels responsible for the outcome of the case because of Hardy and Glowoski’s interference. Jackdorp refuses to give up for the Potters’ sake, but he jokes that he could help push for a mistrial. Jackdorp commends Rusty for the work he’s done.

Rusty feels even more pressure to win the case. Bea joins Rusty and Susan at the jail, and Rusty realizes how much he still loves her. He thinks his suspicions are a subconscious desire to avoid the messy process of reconciliation. Bea commends Rusty’s work, but he gives all the credit to Susan. Rusty briefs Bea on what to say to Aaron.

When Aaron arrives, Bea finally hugs her son. They all make their case to Aaron about not testifying, and Bea urges him to follow Rusty and Susan’s advice. Aaron, however, feels like he needs to testify. If he doesn’t testify and the jury convicts him anyway, Aaron will only think the jury are bigots, which he knows isn’t true. He explains how he’s been dealing with this “thing” of racial prejudice all his life and can speak to it in ways Rusty can’t.

The length of Aaron’s speech shocks Rusty. Rusty wishes he could protect Aaron from the jury’s racism, but he’s sure that they won’t convict Aaron just because he’s Black. Aaron explains himself again. Using Parrish as an example, Aaron describes how some Black people walk the world assuming all white people are racist, but Aaron had the advantage of growing up loving white people, and he knows Parrish’s perspective isn’t true. Aaron can only counteract the jury’s assumptions about him if he speaks to them for himself.

Susan returns to the house, and Bea drives Rusty to a diner. They talk about Aaron’s decision, and Bea brings up the rope. Rusty apologizes for not believing her and admits he suspected her of killing Mae. Rusty promises he’s willing to work through their issues after the trial. Rusty calls Jackdorp and Cap about Aaron’s decision. As Rusty eats, he contemplates his future with Bea. If Aaron is convicted, it’s unlikely he and Bea will get back together. Rusty sets up a meeting with Mansy, and when Al arrives with Rusty’s car, he leaves.

Rusty meets Mansy near the country club where the Potter family is staying during the trial. Mansy is impressed with Rusty’s work and knows he’d compete fiercely with the prosecution. Rusty asks if the Potters would consider dropping the case, and Mansy flatly refuses. Rusty tries to get Mansy to see his side, and the pair argue back and forth about the evidence. Rusty tries to appeal to Mansy’s belief in the legal system, but Mansy is more concerned with his family’s feelings. Mansy thinks Aaron will get off because of Glowoski’s mistakes, not because he’s truly innocent. Mansy realizes Aaron intends to testify and suspects Rusty is trying to prevent that. Mansy berates Rusty for ruining Hardy and Charmaine’s lives and leaves without another word.

Before Aaron takes the stand, Reverend Spruce testifies to Aaron’s character and introduces Aaron’s conviction and sobriety journey. Rusty also introduces Aaron’s clean drug test. Aaron opens his testimony by definitively declaring he didn’t kill Mae. Aaron describes the evolution of their relationship, from first seeing her at a church dance to dating in high school. Aaron expresses the intensity of their young love.

In junior year, Mae started having mood swings, and she became erratic and cruel. The couple started using drugs to deal with their feelings. They broke up when they went to college, and Aaron felt lost without Mae. He continued using drugs, and when Mae came to town during the COVID-19 lockdown, Aaron received his first drug conviction. Afterward, Aaron’s addiction intensified, and he began stealing to support his habit. Mae went away and came back, which is when Aaron was arrested again, this time on a felony drug charge. Aaron spent four months in prison, where he entered Reverend Spruce’s sobriety program.

Aaron describes the conditions of his court order. He got a job and was starting to piece his life back together when Mae returned from New York. After spending a night together after a party, Mae proposed to him. Aaron invited Mae to go camping without their phones or drugs so they could talk about their future, and Mae agreed. They set up their tent at Harold’s Woods in a sudden downpour but hung out in Mae’s car until it stopped. They cooked food, and in the middle of sex, they heard a bear rifling through their garbage. They rapidly got dressed, and Aaron agrees that he could’ve stepped on Mae’s blouse in the frenzy. Mae took drugs to help her sleep. In the morning, Aaron went to buy rope and more food, and he strung his backpack up in a tree.

Mae was still under the influence of drugs when she woke up, and on their hike, she took hundreds of selfies for social media. When Mae seemed calm, Aaron gave his speech. He wanted to help Mae get back to her real self before they committed to marriage. He had three conditions: Mae had to manage her addiction, make peace with her father, and reconsider psychiatric treatment. Mae seemed to listen, but the next day, her behavior was the same. Aaron realized Mae didn’t want anyone to love her because she hated herself. At this, Charmaine breaks into an audible sob. Aaron and Charmaine share in their grief across the courtroom. Aaron returns to his story when he packed his stuff up and left. Mae screamed and threatened to hurt herself, and she started taking a video to shame Aaron on TikTok. Humiliated, Aaron grabbed her phone and walked away.

In the parking lot, Mae screamed and fell over as she jumped for her phone. Aaron simply kept walking and cried. Aaron recounts the story of Mae peeing on his backpack and sleeping bag. He confirms Parrish’s story and describes the long journey home. Aaron admits he kept his camping gear in his closet, but the smell was so strong that he ultimately burned the items. Aaron brought Mae’s phone back to the Potters and thought Mae was staying away to punish him. Aaron describes his grief when he learned of Mae’s death, and his immediate desire to be alone. He drove to the Ginawaban crime scene to pay his respects and say a prayer. The truck died, so he slept in the truck bed for two nights. He confirms Deputy Holloway’s account of his arrest. Aaron doesn’t know who killed Mae, but it wasn’t him.

Jackdorp commends Aaron for having convenient answers for all the evidence, but Aaron quips that he wanted to address everything for the jury. Jackdorp tries to make it seem like Aaron had to kill Mae to be rid of her, but Aaron staunchly denies this. Aaron was angry at Mae for breaking her promises, but he would never hurt her. Jackdorp tries to catch Aaron in a lie about why he took Mae’s phone, but Aaron doesn’t sway from his story. He offers to unlock Mae’s phone, and both Rusty and Jackdorp are surprised, since they assumed no one knew Mae’s password. Aaron didn’t give Mae’s phone back when she tried to confront him because he knew she’d manipulate him again. He burned his camping gear because he couldn’t wash the stink out.

Jackdorp establishes Aaron’s pattern of lying. Aaron confirms that, as someone with an addiction, he stole from his family, and he broke the rules of his probation by driving and turning off his phone. Aaron admits that he deliberately didn’t contact his guardians and lied to them about his phone being dead. Jackdorp says Aaron lied to Deputy Holloway about going down the utility road, but Aaron claims he just didn’t mention it. Aaron confessed to going down the road because he wanted to be honest, and if he were a liar, he wouldn’t have revealed it. Jackdorp concludes that Aaron lies to get out of troubling situations, like the one he’s in now.

Rusty waits anxiously as the jury goes into deliberation. He recalls the closing statements. He pointed out the prosecution’s errors and how they didn’t prove Aaron’s guilt. Rusty urged the jury to think how the defense would argue in response to the prosecution’s closing statement. Jackdorp conceded that they made a mistake about the site of death but didn’t offer any further explanations.

Rusty pops into the courtroom before heading home, but Judge Carrington tells him to stay, since the jury has returned. Nat and Susan think the quick turnaround bodes well, but Rusty refuses to make predictions. Bea, Lloyd, and Joe rush to the courthouse, but the Potters don’t show. The jurors enter, and two women smile at Aaron. Judge Carrington reviews the verdict, and the clerk reads the not guilty verdict aloud. Aaron sobs, and when Judge Carrington declares he’s free to go, Aaron’s family surrounds him. Jackdorp congratulates Rusty and confesses that his belief in Aaron’s guilt was almost immediately shaken.

Cassity and Brice throw a party for Aaron’s release. Bea’s friend, Daria, tells Rusty that she gave the rope to Bea, and Bea was with her the entire day of September 14. Rusty watches Aaron, who is happy but drifts away from the crowds. Bea raises a toast to Aaron, Rusty, and Susan. Aaron departs for Cassity and Brice’s house, and he drives, since the judge terminated his court order. When everyone leaves, Bea tearfully embraces Rusty and pleads for forgiveness.

Aaron tries to return to his normal life and spends a lot of time alone on Mirror Lake. Bea wants to move to Kindle, and Aaron plans a trip to visit Nat. People around Skageon pester the Housleys about who they think killed Mae. Three days after the verdict, Judge Carrington passes on information from the jurors. They made their decision unanimously on the first vote, and many were pleased that Aaron took the stand.

Jackdorp isn’t running for reelection, so Judge Carrington might pursue his job. Joe only has a few months left to live, since his condition deteriorated rapidly during the trial. Rusty runs into Mansy, and to his surprise, Mansy shakes his hand and apologizes. With a clearer mind, Mansy understands Rusty’s position, and he was glad to hear Aaron’s side of the story. Lainie Harrup calls Rusty when her phone records come in, and Rusty wants to see them.

Rusty visits Joe, who is in home care. As Joe sleeps, Rusty finds his pair of Air Force 1s and waits. Rusty confronts Joe with the shoes and the phone records, which show that Mae called him from Lainie’s phone. Joe doesn’t want to tell his story, but Rusty persuades him to confide in him as a lawyer. Joe confesses that Mae called him and threatened to hurt herself if Aaron didn’t meet her at Ginawaban. Instead of calling Aaron, Joe went himself. At Ginawaban, Mae sat on a boulder with a noose around her neck. She started screaming at Joe, and in her fury, she slipped and hung from a tree. Mae flailed about, and Joe nudged her so she wouldn’t regain her footing. The branch snapped, and to make sure she was dead, Joe strangled Mae. Joe decided to make her death look like an accident. He moved her body into the car, cut the noose off, and sat on her to drive to the utility road. He nudged the car down the road with his truck and covered it with branches.

Joe feels no remorse and sees his actions as self-defense. Joe believes he’s been doing the law’s dirty work since Vietnam, so killing Mae was just another part of his duty. Rusty reluctantly says he’ll keep his promise, and Joe dismisses Rusty. Rusty feels immense pity for Mae, whose young life was cut short. Rusty decides he’ll leave Skageon with Bea when Joe dies, so they can escape the cloud of grief. Rusty reflects on his years in Skageon, and he feels healed enough to return to his home in Kindle County.