Episode 7 of "We Were Liars" kicks off in the summer of '17, where instead of rejoicing in the burgeoning romance, Mirren attempts to persuade Cady to steer clear of Gat. Before Cady can inquire the reason behind Mirren's advice, Bonnie bursts in, requesting a horror tale. Cady, finding amusement in the situation, diverts Bonnie's attention towards Mirren. Meanwhile, Harris summons Cady for a town visit, acknowledging his past errors towards his daughters and heralding Cady as Sinclair's beacon of hope.
Flashback to the summer of '16 reveals Harris drafting his will amidst family turmoil. Bess dispatches the younger children to Brody's care while the older siblings prepare to sway Harris in their favor. Penny taunts Cady, hinting that if she wishes to save the world, she must curry favor with Harris' wealth and behave impeccably.
Carrie, visibly agitated, reminds Johnny to behave himself, as he tentatively attempts to confess his true self—a self that falls short of Sinclair's ideals. She urges him to postpone the revelation until the next day. Will reassures Johnny of his worth, leaving him deeply touched. Mirren, however, catches glimpses of Bess's infidelity and is incensed, only to be distracted by Bess's compliment on her hairstyle.
The Liars pine for Gat, indulging in a smoke session before confronting the family. Lunch commences with Harris expressing relief at Ed and Gat's absence, envisioning a Sinclair-only gathering. However, his delight sours upon learning the children are with Brody, whom he brands a criminal. His tirade inadvertently singles out Mirren, prompting Bess to retaliate by exposing the family's darkest secrets—Carrie's drug dependency, Johnny's assault, and Penny's divorce.
Fuming, Carrie retaliates by unveiling Bess's affair with Dan. Desperate to regain control, Harris forces Penny to consume a lemon tart, sparking an enraged Cady to provoke him further. She sarcastically points out that lemons symbolize colonial rule and keeps mentioning Gat. Johnny also joins the fray, mentioning Ed. The sisters blame Carrie for abandoning Ed for no reason, and Carrie, in a fit of emotion, accidentally reveals that she had no choice.
In a moment of emotional overload, Carrie, cornered and desperate, lets slip the truth about her affair—a revelation that she had no choice in the matter, unveiling a layer of coercion beneath the family's veneer of privilege and perfection.
Cady realizes that Harris has presented Carrie with an ultimatum: the inheritance or Ed. Fed up, Harris unleashes that the will is set in stone, leaving them devoid of their birthright. In a fit of rage, he storms off, with Cady hot on his heels, branding him a racist. Harris attempts to justify himself but trips and strikes his head, necessitating an emergency helicopter evacuation. Penny, sensing an opportunity, instructs Cady to locate and incinerate the will should it not align with their wishes. However, with a solitary seat aboard the helicopter, Penny seizes it without hesitation.
Bess, irked by the turn of events, begins packing her belongings. Mirren remains puzzled by her sister's harsh demeanor towards their kin. Bess unleashes a torrent of frustration, revealing that she was the paragon of obedience while her sisters consistently disappointed. She dutifully fulfilled her family's whims, never prioritizing her own desires. Despite her loathing for Boston, she stayed put for Harris's sake, only to receive acknowledgment when she faltered. (A story all too familiar.)
Johnny, distressed by Harris's mistreatment of Ed, seeks solace in Carrie, but she remains preoccupied with her search. Relenting, Johnny hands her back her pills, aware of her relapse – a coping mechanism she employed during their abusive father's reign. He yearns for her to confide in him, but she postpones the conversation until the next day.
As Bess and Carrie rush to the hospital, the Liars dismiss the staff and indulge in a drinking spree. Gat's eventual arrival is met with a group hug, transforming their sorrow into revelry. They bond over libations, cleaning up as they go. Mirren, weary of mirroring her mother's people-pleasing nature, takes scissors to her hair in a bold act of self-expression.
Gat is reluctant to part ways with Cady. After losing his father, he sought refuge in secluded corners, escaping the harsh realities of life. He expresses his gratitude to her for rescuing him from that dark place. For Cady, Beechwood serves as a sanctuary for her family, a sentiment that moves Gat to inscribe the sinister motto of the devil onto her palm.
Johnny, in a fit of exuberance, attempts the iconic Tom Cruise dance from "Risky Business" and inadvertently shatters an illicit ivory statue. Mirren, joining in the mischief, smashes the second one, and both burst into laughter. The sisters call to inform them that Harris is unharmed, but his refusal to undergo medical check-ups reveals alarming signs of early dementia in his scans. The conversation abruptly ends as Harris, unaware of his condition, dashes away.
Disaster strikes when the dishwasher overflows, soaking the priceless rugs. Amidst the mess, the Liars share hearty laughter, reminiscing about their cherished memories. However, the mirth quickly fades as they confront the harsh truths: Harris's racism and the dysfunction that permeates their family. In a rebellious act, Cady sets Harris's will ablaze, revealing its contents—Bess inherits the Boston house, sparking speculation if Harris knew of her aversion to the city; Carrie and Penny receive a stipend on the condition of remaining single; and Cady is bestowed Beechwood Island.
Determined to defy the Sinclair family credo of sweeping their problems under the rug, the Liars conspire to create chaos on an unprecedented scale. Cady points to Clairmont as the epicenter of their troubles, a structure built upon a foundation of hatred.
As We Were Liars Episode 7 concludes in Summer 17, Cady comes to a startling realization—they have burned down the house. Johnny and Mirren offer her comforting embraces amidst the ruins.
