Episode 6 of The Dropout kicks off in October 2013, as Walgreens unknowingly embarks on utilizing The Edison for their wellness centers, oblivious to its flaws. Richard, consumed by his quest to bring Elizabeth down, finds himself on the brink of destroying his marriage in the process. He reaches out to John Carreyrou, a Wall Street Journal reporter, determined to convince him of the need for a Theranos investigation. John responds that Richard needs a credible insider to support his allegations.
Enter Erika Cheung, a fresh intern at Theranos. Paired with Tyler in the lab, she is immediately struck by the intimidating and taut ambiance. In the meantime, Elizabeth enjoys a global celebration as a feminist icon, her star shining brightly. At a public interview at Stanford, she recalls a female professor's lack of belief in her, unaware of the ripple effects her words will have.
Phyllis, enraged by Elizabeth's statements, voices her concerns to Richard, fearing that Elizabeth's actions will taint the image of all women in science. The pair later finds its way to the home of Ian's wife, Rochelle, who aligns herself with Richard and Phyllis, voicing her own desire to see Theranos' downfall.
As Erika navigates her new role, the shoddiness of The Edisons perplexes her. Tyler reveals the existence of a secret lab called Normandy, where the real technology is housed and tests are conducted. Her suspicions soar when the new lab director, Mark, requests her to selectively choose data, with everyone evasive and adamant about eliminating "outliers" - data points that don't align with their desired outcomes.
Tyler brings this "mismanagement" to Elizabeth's attention, earning her gratitude. The following day, Erika is transferred to Normandy, promised to work with actual patient samples. However, upon arrival, she witnesses them diluting blood samples and running them through the same flawed technology.
Rochelle offers John Carreyrou a statement, revealing that Elizabeth's name adorns all Theranos patents despite her lack of inventions. However, John still requires a primary source to substantiate his story. Alone in the lab, Erika attempts to test blood samples but the machine fails her. Desperate, she calls the helpline.
A determined woman strides in, blatantly disregarding the machine's findings. Erika, passionate about her duty, protests fervently, reminding her that this is a genuine patient's fate at stake. But the woman remains indifferent, turning a deaf ear to her pleas. Undeterred, Erika delves deeper into the labyrinthine lab, uncovering a shocking truth—the Edisons are merely recycled Siemens machines. She rushes to inform Tyler, but he finds it hard to believe that Elizabeth, their esteemed leader, would intentionally jeopardize patients' lives.
Erika, determined to uncover the truth, presses Tyler to join her in this quest. But he remains hesitant, prompting her to declare that she would pursue it alone if he refused.
Meanwhile, Elizabeth and Sunny attend Elizabeth's 30th birthday bash. Sunny, yearning for their relationship to be made public, is disheartened by the need to keep their affection hidden. His longing for public recognition is so intense that he even makes an offer for a home they could share. At the celebration, Tyler's stepmother, with a keen eye, senses the underlying bond between the CEO and COO.
Tyler confronts Elizabeth, inquiring about her alleged experiments on Siemens machines. She dismisses his accusations with a wave of her hand, claiming ignorance. However, her attempt to intimidate him only fuels Tyler's resolve. He later rushes to Erika, confessing that she was indeed correct in her suspicions.
Erika and Tyler collaborate, drafting a scathing email exposing the mismanagement of the lab. They sign it with Tyler's name, reasoning that as a Schultz, he has less to lose.
The following day, Sunny summons Erika and Tyler to his office. He fires Tyler, knowing full well that Erika was the informant. He warns her that any similar betrayal will render her unemployable.
Desperate, Tyler and Erika approach Tyler's grandfather, Schultz. They plead with him, trying to convince him of Theranos's deceit, but he stubbornly turns a blind eye.
In the meantime, Richard orchestrates a clandestine meeting with Mark Roessler. Mark directs Richard to Erika and Tyler, two whistleblowers at the heart of the scandal.
The episode culminates in a tense moment, as Tyler and Erika dial the number of a Wall Street journalist, ready to expose the truth to the world.
