In the dramatic unfolding at Walter's Nursing Home, DeathOlympia strategically positions herself to represent Blake Ellison (portrayed by Jesse Bush), the director of Tranquil Pines nursing home, steering clear of Julian. Her tactics involve highlighting the facility's long-standing breach of numerous regulations, culminating in the tragic demise of their resident, Walter Higgins. By demonstrating her profound grasp of the lawsuit's intricacies, she captures Blake's admiration and subsequently secures his nod over Julian, making her the chosen advocate.
Walter, initially defiant, declined medical attention on the fatal eve. His condition, however, drastically worsened overnight. By dawn, the nurses discovered him lifeless, a victim of a stroke. Walter's bereaved kin contends that the nursing staff's infrequent checks contributed to his untimely end. Olympia, acute to the judicial tendency to favor families in such sorrowful cases, realizes a shift in strategy is imperative.
Matlock's sleuthing unearths a hidden dimension: Walter's clandestine poker nights, where the victorious player was rewarded with Viagra. Trouble is, he was already prescribed nitrates, a cocktail with Viagra that significantly escalates stroke risks. Olympia acknowledges the moral quandary in implicating Walter in his own demise. Yet, Sarah (played by Leah Lewis) reminds her of the intense rivalry with Julian and stresses that now is not the time for scruples.
The question looms: Is the nursing home culpable, or does fault lie elsewhere? Crucially, they must establish that Walter ingested Viagra that fateful night. Gaining information from the nursing home staff seems unlikely, as they tend to be circumspect about resident matters with outsiders. Instead, their trust lies more with fellow residents. Hence, the spotlight turns to Matlock, who readily agrees to infiltrate Tranquil Pines undercover, ready to uncover the truth that lies beneath the surface.Matlock indulges in idle chatter with the female residents, affectionately known as the Garden Girls Club, delving into the intricate "social dynamics" that permeate Tranquil Pines. Through their whispers, it transpires that Walter was the epitome of popularity until his entanglement with Lucille (played by Joanna Cassidy). She deserted the Garden Girls Club to be by his side, a blatant violation of their cardinal rule.
Later revelations unveil a stunning negligence on the part of Tranquil Pines' nurses; they failed to check on Walter at the crucial hour of 4 am on the fateful night of his demise, thus implicating the nursing home in a liability quagmire. Billy (portrayed by David Del Rio) suggests navigating the ambiguous waters surrounding Walter's time of death. They seek out an expert witness who could attest that Walter might have expired prior to 4 am.
In court, a defense medical expert testifies that Walter's rigor mortis indicates a time of death around 1:30 am. Conversely, the plaintiff's medical expert counters that Walter passed at 4:30 am, suggesting that his rigor mortis may have been expedited due to his preexisting ailments. The experts engage in a tug-of-war, citing potential medical evidence to support their respective timelines. Ultimately, the plaintiff emerges victorious.
A subsequent autopsy uncovers a startling revelation: no traces of Viagra in Walter's system. A dejected and tear-streaked Olympia confesses to Matlock that she has lost not only the case but also the partnership battle, her marriage has crumbled, and her bond with Elijah has withered. Matlock offers her a heartening pep talk, aiming to revive her spirits.
Matlock's detective work uncovers a damning truth: Lucille was intricately involved in Walter's demise. The toxicology report reveals a deadly presence of arsenic in Walter's bloodstream. The tea he consumed moments before his death was laced with rat poison. Lucille confesses, her voice trembling, that she aided Walter in this grim act of self-termination. After sustaining a hip fracture, he was consumed by a desire to end his life, fearing he had become a burden to his loved ones.Autry Tucker, portrayed by Hal Williams, finds himself in desperate need of assistance as his neighbors, citing his incessantly loud television, illegally attempt to evict him from his apartment. Unbeknownst to Autry, his next-door neighbor harbors secret ambitions of acquiring his abode. Olympia, faced with the dilemma, entrusts the decision of who will represent Autry in his case to Matlock, leaving the options open between Sarah and Billy.
She wavers indecisively between the two, Sarah and Billy, weighing their merits. Sarah's heartfelt confession to Matlock about her grandmother's dementia—a condition that rendered her unrecognizable and racist towards Sarah upon her return from college—momentarily tilts the scales in her favor. However, an unexpected twist occurs when Billy catches Matlock red-handed, snooping around his desk for a missing recording device (details to follow). This incident promptly sways Matlock's choice to Billy.
Billy triumphs in the lawsuit, uncovering a clever scheme whereby Autry's neighbor had surreptitiously stolen his remote control and deliberately cranked up the TV volume, hoping to garner sympathy and support from other residents against Autry. The courtroom erupts in congratulatory cheers for Billy's victory.
Yet, Sarah confronts Matlock, her emotions raw, questioning his decision to side with Billy over her, particularly after she had shared her deeply personal vulnerability. Matlock, attempting to mend fences, offers a half-hearted apology. But Sarah's warning resonates ominously: she vows that making an adversary of her will be a decision Matlock will come to regret.
How about Alfie's situation? Matlock confides in Edwin her fear of mortality, stressing the importance of maintaining their health. Troubled by the thought of who will care for Alfie (Aaron D. Harris) after their demise, they both resolve to track down Alfie’s father.
The drama intensifies when Matlock realizes her secret recording pen is missing. Mrs. Belvin (Patricia Belcher), in the midst of organizing a get-well-soon card signed by everyone in the firm, slips the pen out of Julian’s office. Matlock’s heart races, fearing that someone might discover its true nature and trace it back to her. Edwin reassures her, but the real issue arises when Alfie cleverly links the pen’s transcriptions to an email address potentially traceable to them.
The following day, Matlock heads to Olympia’s office with the intention of retrieving her pen. However, before she can lay her hands on it, Billy’s sharp eyes recognize it as a recording device. In a flash of ingenuity, Matlock suggests that Julian might be behind its planting. Olympia, intrigued, asks Billy to use his police connections to investigate if the pen can be traced.
Later, Olympia phones Matlock with alarming news: the pen is linked to a random email, necessitating a warrant for retrieval. Unbeknownst to them, Matlock had swiftly swapped the pen in Billy’s desk before he could fully inspect it. Consequently, they trace that pen to Julian’s email.
Empowered by this revelation, Olympia vows to outshine Julian in their race to become partners, gain the upper hand in their divorce settlement, and demand forensic accounting to uncover every penny he has concealed and every lie he has spun. Matlock pledges to stand by her side throughout this tumultuous journey.
