The thrilling journey of Season 1, Episode 3 of "Matlock" kicks off with our protagonist, Matlock, along with Alfie, delving into the profile of the judge presiding over Olympia's latest case. Intriguingly, they uncover that the judge is not only actively coaching his son's baseball league but also has a storied past as a Marine.
The following day at the courthouse, Sara goes above and beyond her duties to assist Olympia in meticulously selecting the jury for their case. The focus of their legal battle is Veronica Cabrera, who is suing her former employer, Jeremy, for wrongful termination coupled with sexual harassment. Post the jury selection, Sarah is left mystified when Olympia offers congratulations to everyone except her, causing her to question her actions and wonder if she had somehow upset Olympia.
Matlock, meanwhile, cunningly manipulates the situation to persuade the judge to enforce a strict no-phone rule in the courtroom. His motive becomes clearer as Sara intentionally leaves her phone on during the jury selection, pretending to struggle with turning it off. Her ultimate goal is to sneakily obtain Olympia's phone password and access her laptop.
Enlisting the aid of a confidant, Sara expresses relief later that evening to her husband, stating her disdain for court hearings, finding them monotonous and a drain on her time. However, the next day, she plays the role of a calming influence, helping Veronica gather her composure before testifying. Unfortunately, her meticulously crafted plan to sneak a peek at Olympia's phone is foiled when Olympia summons Matlock into the courtroom.
During the hearing, Veronica recounts her harrowing experience of sexual harassment by Jeremy at the company's Christmas party. She shares how she started avoiding him afterward, her work suffering as a result of panic attacks whenever she encountered him. However, the prosecutor counters Veronica's narrative , undermining her credibility and revealing her deception on the stand about having a relationship with another coworker. Adding fuel to the fire, the prosecutor successfully convinced the judge to permit the screening of Veronica's sex tape with this said coworker, intensifying the dramatic tension in the courtroom.
By the conclusion of the hearing, Olympia's case teeters on the brink of defeat, hanging by a fragile thread. Desperate, she reluctantly adopts her ex-husband's advice and enlists Shae Banfield, the renowned human lie detector, into her corner. Olympia implores Shae to lend her expertise on a pro bono basis, hoping she can devise a strategy to reclaim the jury's favor.
Upon hearing the news of Shae's involvement, Mtlock's demeanor shifts to one of palpable anxiety. Meanwhile, Billy, keen on dismantling Jeremy's credibility further, dives into his social media footprint. His investigative prowess uncovers a link to a group engaged in court-mandated community service, suggesting a checkered past. He eagerly volunteers to visit the precinct where his mother and sister serve, aiming to gather more incriminating details. During his visit, he introduces Matlock to his family, who also confirm his suspicions about Jeremy's sketchy background. Empowered by this revelation, Olympia tasks Billy with delving deeper, despite Jeremy's sealed records posing a challenge.
Just then, Shae, the knight in shining armor, arrives to lend her acute skills to the fray. She swiftly notices Matlock's odd demeanor and suspects foul play. Intrigued, she invites Matlock to accompany them to court, intent on showcasing his discomfort upon witnessing Veronica's sex tape. Her strategic move aims to exploit any crack in Matlock's composure, painting him as a nervous and unreliable figure before the jury's scrutinizing eyes.
This time around, Olympia conclusively demonstrates that Veronica's claim of dating a colleague was genuine, with their relationship coming to an end when Veronica's ex-partner joined the firm. Furthermore, she substantiates that Veronica's professional performance began to decline following the company party. However, the jurors hold a favorable view against Olympia. Shae proposes that Matlock should handle the remainder of the case, but both Matlock and Olympia flatly refuse.
In parallel, Billy and Sarah uncover crucial information: Jeremy has a prior conviction for groping, and the involved park ranger is prepared to testify. Urged by this revelation, Olympia rushes to the courtroom to present the evidence to the judge, only to realize she has misplaced her phone. Matlock volunteers to stay and search for it, urging Olympia not to miss the judge's attention, casually mentioning that the judge is a former Marine. Olympia reveals a personal connection, noting that her late father was also a former Marine.
While Olympia is away, Matlock seizes the opportunity to access her boss's computer and accomplishes her objectives. Regrettably, the judge denies Olympia's request to introduce the new evidence before the jury. Returning unexpectedly early, Olympia catches Matlock in her office. Startled, Matlock accidentally spills coffee onto Olympia's laptop. Fortunately, Olympia, focused solely on the case, brushes off Matlock's weak excuse and insists that she take charge. Assuring Matlock that they will bring her up to speed, Shae remains puzzled by Matlock's nervous demeanor, which Matlock attributes to her anxiety about stepping into the lead role.
The rehearsal hearing proves to be a disaster as Matlock loses her patience, expressing her frustration with Veronica's disorganization. Veronica, feeling disheartened, abruptly leaves the room. Olympia confronts Matlock, emphasizing the importance of empathy and understanding that, despite Veronica's imperfections, she doesn't deserve sexual harassment. She delivers an inspiring speech on the significance of their case. That night, Matlock spends a vigilant evening at home preparing, her thoughts drifting back to a past acquaintance named Greg.
On the flip side, Shae finds fault with Olympia's connection to Elijah, while Sarah remains consumed by her error, confessing her misstep and grappling to understand its ramifications. As dawn breaks, Matlock seeks forgiveness from Veronica and promptly immerses herself in court proceedings, cunningly securing Jeremy's criminal history as incriminating evidence. During her closing remarks, she unveils her personal tale involving Greg, confessing her initial prejudice against Veronica, rooted in her own painful past. Greg had similarly victimized her, steering her career on a completely different path as a defensive maneuver. In hindsight, she realizes the profound impact it had on her life.
Minutes later, the jury emerges with a verdict, granting Veronica an award exceeding her expectations—a staggering nine million dollars. Olympia and Matlock celebrate triumphantly, dancing outside the courthouse amidst jubilant spirits. Matlock playfully inquiries about their friendship status, but Olympia firmly asserts their non-existent bond.
Later, Shae discloses to Olympia that her ex-husband had financially incentivized her to take the case, cautioning Olympia to steer clear of Elijah. Despite plans to publicize their relationship post-divorce in October, Olympia severs ties with Elijah, fearing her ex-husband's wrath and potential retaliation. Her reputation hangs in the balance, adding to her apprehension. Regarding Sarah, Olympia remarks that her incessant need to please others obstructs her judgment.
In the intern's office, Matlock exhorts Billy to abandon self-deprecation and bask in his achievements. Subsequently, she and Alfie delve into Olympia's laptop, discovering that she swapped it before deliberately sabotaging the decoy with coffee. Alfie stumbles upon an unbacked-up voice note from Olympia's father, echoing the motivational phrase she employed on Matlock. For a fleeting instant, Matlock ponders returning the file to Olympia but ultimately decides against it, recalling Olympia's denial of friendship.
