Episode 7 of "The Dropout" kicks off with a captivating glimpse into Elizabeth Holmes's glittering 2015 lifestyle. She sits for prestigious interviews with presidents, poses for a TIME magazine profile, and is shadowed everywhere by a vigilant security detail. Yet, beneath this veneer of glamour, her empire stands precariously on the brink of collapse.
John Carreyrou, the investigative journalist from the Wall Street Journal, has his sights firmly set on Theranos. Armed with a trove of evidence, including doctors willing to testify against the company's fraudulent tests, he's also leveraging his inside sources. All he needs now is for Theranos to respond to his probing inquiries.
Mark Roessler, in a panic, downloads hundreds of company emails onto his personal drive. He flees the building, with Sunny's angry shouts echoing in his wake, threatening legal action. Elizabeth and Sunny confer with their formidable attorney, David Boies. Refusing to engage with The Journal's inquiries, Boies counsels a counterattack, advising them to target Carreyrou's sources. Sunny intimidates the doctors, coercing them to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Fearful of being trailed, Mark frantically deletes the incriminating emails. With his sources dwindling, Carreyrou relies solely on Tyler Schultz, but he remains elusive. George Schultz summons his grandson, but Tyler insists he never spoke to a reporter about Theranos. Nonetheless, he refuses to sign a new NDA, prompting Theranos to threaten legal action.
As Theranos celebrates FDA approval for its Herpes tests, Elizabeth publishes a triumphant article heralding a new era of healthcare in the Wall Street Journal. Little does she know that Robert Murdoch, the newspaper's owner, has invested heavily in her company. Carreyrou's heart sinks; he fears Murdoch will silence his story to safeguard his investment. Desperate to publish, he's at a loss, having lost nearly all his sources.
Boies strides into Theranos with a determined gaze, seeking Elizabeth out for a frank discussion. His tone is grave as he declares that the article hovering over their heads won't dissipate. Until he gains clarity on the Wall Street Journal's findings, he cannot dispel the shadow. He demands to know what secrets Elizabeth has been sheltering.
Later, Boies, accompanied by a battery of lawyers, storms into the Wall Street Journal's offices. In an attempt to quash Carreyrou's investigation, they inadvertently strengthen it by acknowledging the use of third-party analyzers. Realizing the gravity of the situation, Boies rushes a call to Elizabeth, sounding a warning bell. He informs her that the Journal will be publishing an article that very night.
Elizabeth, panic-stricken, turns to Schultz for solace. His advice is blunt, blaming Sunny for the impending storm. But Sunny sees through the ruse, realizing it could be Elizabeth's cunning plan. He confronts her, stating that they are both privy to the same information; Elizabeth's name is on every incriminating email.
That evening, Elizabeth attends a gala for the Harvard Medical School Board of Fellows, where she unexpectedly encounters Phyllis Garner, another board member. Phyllis expresses her eagerness for the Wall Street Journal article, yet her tone is laden with disdain as she sharply queries Elizabeth about the fate of aspiring female entrepreneurs after her downfall. As the night unfolds, the article is unleashed, its impact rippling through the boardroom and beyond.
