Episode 5 of The Dropout begins, painting a vivid picture of Theranos three years after its fateful partnership with Walgreens. Dr. Jay Rosan unveiled a life-sized replica of Walgreens' futuristic wellness centers to Elizabeth, pressing her along with Wade Miquelon to ensure the blood testing device was operational in a mere six months.
In 2013, Elizabeth's lawsuit hovered over Richard's shoulders, casting a shadow of uncertainty. Their pride was too entrenched to yield, and Richard devised a cunning plan. He delved deep into Theranos' patent records, uncovering Ian Gibbons' name adorning nearly every one of them. Ian, trapped in a mundane desk job for three long years, found himself in a predicament one evening after work, a subpoena from Richard in his hands.
Caught in a dilemma, Ian knew that if he spoke the truth, Theranos could retaliate with a lawsuit. But to lie under oath would be a criminal act of perjury. He sought counsel from Theranos' legal team, who tried to shelter him from the courtroom's scrutiny.
Sunny was dismayed by Elizabeth's hasty acceptance of a September deadline, devoid of tangible progress. He chastised her for focusing solely on marketing, accusing her of evading reality. Later, Elizabeth convened with her lawyer, David Boies, and George Schultz, who broke the news of Ian's subpoena. Elizabeth counseled David that to defeat Richard, he must coax him into discussing her.
After their discussion, George introduced Elizabeth to his grandson, Tyler, a devoted admirer who dreamed of interning at Theranos. Back at the lab, Sunny proposed dismantling a Siemens machine to gain insights and strengthen their Edison device's development. However, Elizabeth refused, insisting they would innovate their way forward and launch the Edison in September.
Sunny warned Elizabeth that they were poised on the brink of massive financial losses this year. He posed a hypothetical: what if they simply gave up—both the company and their relationship? Yet, Elizabeth remained unwavering.
Meanwhile, Richard delivered a recorded deposition to Elizabeth's legal team. As Elizabeth anticipated, Richard veered off-topic, embarking on a tirade against her, even confessing that he had purchased their patent for purely selfish reasons.
After a profound conversation with her mother, Elizabeth comes to a stark realization: she cannot abandon her cause. She hastily returns to Sunny, informing him of their revised plan to launch in phases. For the initial phase, they will employ a revamped Siemens machine. To her surprise, Sunny is already ahead of the curve, having dismantled the machine and even brainstorming new software tailored to their "Theranos" brand.
The Theranos legal counsel presents Ian with a letter, suggesting he obtain a doctor's signature to claim ill health, thus evading deposition. Ian loathes the proposal, realizing that signing it would effectively blacklist him from the professional world. If he's not a chemist, he feels lost, unsure of his identity.
The next morning, Ian's wife awakens, searching for him amidst their whining dogs outside a locked bathroom door. Her calls are met with silence. The following day, Elizabeth prepares to pitch her new strategy to the Walgreens board, proposing a slogan change from "a tiny drop" to simply "a few drops." However, Sunny interrupts her mid-meeting, delivering shocking news: Ian has overdosed on Tylenol and alcohol, succumbing to his injuries in the hospital. Elizabeth is overwhelmed, fearing her lawsuit may have driven him to this extreme.
Her distress disrupts the meeting, prompting Sunny to postpone it. Assuming she's distraught over Ian's death, Sunny is relieved to discover her actual sentiment is one of relief. With Ian unable to testify, Richard will be forced to settle. Theranos security swiftly enters Ian's home, confiscating his laptop while his distraught wife watches helplessly.
Brendan pens a touching memorial for Ian and circulates it among the company. Shortly after, we see him exiting Theranos, his belongings neatly packed in a box. Meanwhile, Tyler strides in, ready to embark on his first day as an intern. Mark, the new lab director, warmly introduces himself to the young man.
Elizabeth gathers everyone for a triumphant speech, celebrating the imminent launch of The Edison at Walgreens in 48 hours. She unveils Theranos' new logo, aptly named "The Flower of Life." David offers to drop the lawsuit against Richard if he withdraws his patent claim. Richard acquiesces, but vows to uncover all of Elizabeth's secrets. The episode culminates with Richard dialing Phyllis Gardner, inquiring about Elizabeth. "She's a fraud," she declares bluntly. "She's always been a fraud."
