Episode 9 of "Inventing Anna" commences its climactic finale with Todd visiting Anna and strategizing her courtroom defense. The verdict rests solely in the hands of a jury, prompting Todd to coach Anna on how to deceive them into believing she was never near receiving those funds.
As Anna scrambles to find a stylist to perfect her hair, she hastily dials Todd's secretary, instructing him to relay a message: to contact her father and wire 10k to cover her expenses. Dissatisfied with her attire, Anna compels Todd to embark on a shopping spree in search of ensembles that better align with her tastes. Vivian, sensing a chance to exploit the situation, offers to undertake this task in exchange for uncovering the intricacies of the case.
Once Anna is dressed to perfection, Todd delivers his opening argument, emphasizing that Adam was never in close proximity to securing loans or funds. However, the courtroom drama soon morphs into a glitzy fashion showcase, with Anna parading in various ensembles over the course of the days, all while skirting around the heart of the matter.
Kacy and Rachel are not amused with Neff, whose social media antics have catapulted Anna into an iconic status, resembling a modern-day Rihanna. Despite her initial trepidation, Rachel summons the courage to testify, delivering a passionate account of how Anna betrayed her trust and shattered her confidence.
The following day, Anna's carefully curated facade came crashing down, with a wardrobe malfunction serving as the tipping point. Todd, fed up to the brim, delivered a scathing rebuke against Anna and her relentless deception. He laid her out as a shameless charlatan, piercing her veil of lies. Undeterred, Todd entered Anna's game, vowing to continue the fight for his own sake. However, he made it clear that Anna must play by the rules, including protecting her reputation and concealing her fraudulent identity.
Next, Todd grilled Rachel, exposing her role in the sting operation, which prompted Kacy's hasty exit from the courtroom. In the midst of Anna and Kacy's argument, they missed the core truth — Anna never intended to compensate Rachel and had left her high and dry. While American Express eventually sorted out the charges, it was only after Rachel had exposed Anna's fraudulent nature. Kacy's departure was followed by her reproach towards Rachel for betraying her friend.
After a tumultuous drama involving Todd, Margaret, Jack, and Vivian (who was chastised for neglecting her daughter, a claim with convincing credibility), we returned to the courtroom for the closing arguments. Todd's argument took a surprising twist, shifting the blame onto the bankers and betraying Anna, claiming her ideas were mere fantasies, not genuine business plans. It was a calculated strategy to potentially save her from prison, but Anna was left bewildered, uncertain of how to respond.
As the climax unfolded, a flurry of guilty verdicts descended. It's worth noting that City National emerged as "not guilty," sparking jubilant cheers and applause in Vivian's workplace, a testament to impartial justice. Another not guilty verdict was delivered in Rachel Williams' favor.
After triumphing over two formidable adversaries of Anna's, Todd made a swift exit from Margaret's orbit and hastened back to Anna's side. He even summoned Anna's father to inform him of his return. Meanwhile, Vivian resumed her duties, where Paul and Landon were ebullient over the article's online success. However, Vivian was preoccupied with Anna's white dress, which belonged to her own wardrobe, yet it held her in a dazed spin.
Vivian confessed her concern for Anna and the emotional investment she had made. She was encouraged to move on to her next assignment, but the path forward remained unclear. The sentencing was announced, and Anna was sentenced to 12 years in prison, though Todd optimistically interpreted it as ranging from 4 to 12 years. Vivian was displeased, labeling Anna a "middle-aged woman whose life would be robbed from her."
As Anna was transferred to Bedford, Vivian made a final visit to bid her farewell. As Anna was led back to her cell, we shifted our gaze to glimpse the current pursuits of our diverse characters. Todd Spodek had emerged as the go-to defense attorney for prominent fraudsters. Kacy had excised troublesome clients from her roster, Neff was pursuing a film career, and Rachel had released her book with much acclaim.
Vivian Kent's character was inspired by the real-life journalist Jessica Pressler, who served as a Vanity Fair correspondent and authored the book Bad Influence. As for Anna, she was released in 2021, yet just a month later, she was apprehended by ICE for exceeding her visa stay. The twists and turns of her fate were indeed perplexing.
