In the sixth episode of "Lessons in Chemistry," Elizabeth takes a nostalgic journey back to her childhood. Growing up, her life was centered around her father, a preacher who preached about being chosen by God, often citing mysterious fires as evidence of divine intervention. However, it was Elizabeth's older brother, John, who shattered this illusion and revealed the truth. He showed her that the fires were not signs from God, but rather the result of combustible pistachio shells. This revelation may have sparked Elizabeth's enduring fascination with the science of chemistry.
In the present day, Elizabeth stands as a beacon of inspiration to women, encouraging one audience member to pursue a career in open heart surgery. She also boldly steps out of the conventional female attire by wearing pants on live television. When she confides in Harriet about feeling like she's making a difference, Harriet struggles to share her enthusiasm. Harriet is deeply involved in organizing a peaceful protest against a proposed freeway, an effort that demands far more commitment and sacrifice than simply wearing pants. In fact, Martin Luther King Jr. himself has recently been arrested for peacefully protesting on a street corner.
Elizabeth's moment of jubilation is fleeting, as Phil pressures her to advertise a shortening product she deeply dislikes. Refusing to compromise her principles, she disobeys on live television, resulting in a three-day suspension for her and all nonessential personnel. This harsh punishment reminds her of the lies and abuse she suffered under her father's roof, particularly the way he mistreated her brother for being gay.
Later, Elizabeth runs into Fran Frask unexpectedly at the grocery store. Fran offers a heartfelt apology for how things ended between them and seems genuinely happy for Elizabeth's success. Willing to let bygones be bygones, Elizabeth extends an olive branch and invites Fran to attend a taping of "Supper at Six."
After Elizabeth's suspension, those who had lost their paid shifts due to her stance harshly criticized her. This criticism stung her deeply, leading her to reluctantly promote the unpopular shortening during the show, all while Fran observed silently from the audience. Once the performance concluded, Elizabeth bravely faced the audience, taking questions from the crowd. Fran, however, couldn't help but notice the banal nature of some inquiries and suggested that Elizabeth have someone screen the questions before the show. Elizabeth, appreciating the advice, promptly offered the job to Fran.
Meanwhile, Mad's search for information about her father had hit a dead end. After fruitlessly calling all the St. Luke's schools, she hatched a plan with Linda and Junior to sneak into Harriet's office in hopes of finding a file on Calvin. But their luck ran out when Harriet caught them red-handed. Harriet promptly informed Elizabeth of Mad's antics, causing Elizabeth to realize that she hadn't been talking enough about Calvin with her daughter.
Elizabeth then confided to Harriet that she couldn't attend the protest due to her fear of harming others at the studio. Harriet, undeterred, pressed her point by highlighting the struggles of Black women. Elizabeth, though sympathetic to the cause, pointed out that her audience was predominantly White women and questioned why she wasn't utilizing her platform to make a difference.
Her thoughts turned to her brother's tragic past. She recalled how her parents would hide him in the trunk of their car, and the fateful day when they heard a gunshot from the bathroom, signaling his suicide. Elizabeth couldn't forget the words her brother John had spoken to her about their father's lies: "I think that living a lie will eat you up inside. Whatever hell is, it must feel something like that."
Taking Harriet's words to heart, Elizabeth made a bold announcement on her show: she would be joining a peaceful protest to oppose the freeway. Phil, enraged, suspended her for four more days. But Elizabeth wasn't fazed. She calmly pointed out the financial loss he would face and declared that she could easily afford to cover the crew's lost wages. She was determined to stand up for what she believed in, no matter the cost.
And so, Elizabeth, accompanied by Harriet and a swarm of protesters, attended the demonstration. But as the police appeared, ordering them to disperse, they all sat down in defiance, following Harriet's resolute lead. The authorities then resorted to force, dragging some away and beating them. Harriet and Charlie were among those arrested, leaving Elizabeth shaken and worried.
Upon returning home, Charlie confessed to Harriet his deep concern for her safety, his heart heavy with fear. Elizabeth, unable to shake the events of the day, sat down with Mad to discuss Calvin and seek any insights she might have uncovered. She shared with Mad how, as a child of the same age as Mad, she had once remembered her brother John through the use of pistachio shells, a poignant reminder of happier times.
Inspired by Elizabeth's story, Mad was now more determined to press ahead with her investigations. Most of the letters she had received from Linda and Junior were requests for money from individuals seeking Calvin's help, with one exception. It was a letter from Avery Parker, mentioning St. Luke's in Modesto. She immediately shared this piece of information with Reverend Wakely. Upon reading the letter, Wakely's eyes widened in realization - her father was Calvin Evans.
