The Trial - Recap

Hank's doing his best to look professional for court. Karen does what she can to bolster his ego in the name of moral support. He's tempted to jump in the nearest vehicle and leave town. She won't go so far as telling him she'll be there when the smoke clears. She's going to give him a ride there. He tells her he'll be right there, and when she gives him a moment, he rushes to the toilet and vomits.

Becca goes for a group hug before they leave.

Protesters are chanting "Free Hank". Karen drives around back to avoid the crowd. She tosses him from the vehicle when they pull up out back. He apologizes for hurting and embarrassing her. She tells him he can make it up to her by getting in there and owning his own. He suggests they head for LA and head for destination: sunny. She says no, and orders him inside. Hank says love you, and Karen says mind your manners.

As he's dropping a cigarette butt in the ashcan, he runs into Karen's ex-fiance, who is also the father of the girl he's alleged to have raped. Bill spits some venom at Hank and enters the courthouse.

Court commences, and Abby gives her opening statement. Mia never said she was underage. He didn't knowingly have sex with a minor. Mia was a very troubled young woman who had reasons of her own for obscuring the truth. The State calls Charlie.

A flashback shows Charlie and Hank entering the lot at night to see a screening. People are laughing, but they're not. In fact, Charlie looks pained, and they both take pulls on their flasks. The director asks Hank what he thought, then says he doesn't care and walks away. Hank comes to the conclusion that he is left with no choice but to sleep with the man's wife. This is Charlie's testimony. The prosecuting attorney says so Hank's idea of a good time is destroying a marriage? Charlie takes offense because his words are being twisted.

The story picks up with Hank doing as he intended. He puts himself back together and goes out to the director, Todd. They have words because the movie is so horrible, and Hank says so. Todd is rejoined by his wife, Sandy. Todd asks Charlie what he thought. He mentions work, and Charlie says he thought it was amazing. Sandy backs Charlie. Todd says "Be nice and I'll let you write the sequel." Hank retorts "Be nice, and I won't f##k your wife again." Todd demands an apology as Sandy throws her drink in Hank's face. Charlie tells Hank to apologize, and he does so. Obviously those two are bullet-proof; a love story for the ages.

The prosecuting attorney hears Charlie out and promptly asks if when Karen moved in with Bill, did Mr. Moody exhibit any similar need for revenge? Charlie spills his guts some more. The more he talks, the worse it looks for Hank. Charlie drove the getaway car when Hank took a dump on the hood of Bill's car. Bill saw him, and ran out with a baseball bat. Hank ran, and Bill gave chase.

Abby's cross attempted to put Hank in a better light, i.e. Charlie's relationship with Hank. He mentions a menage a trois, and that helps nothing at all. Karen is mortified.

Karen is called next. She testifies about what it was like being with Bill when Hank wanted her back. Abby takes cross and makes Karen look completely insane. Karen is mortified some more.

During recess, Abby glances over and sees Karen and Hank embrace. "Maybe she'll give him another chance." Hank says he didn't have to be so hard on her. Abby asks if he wants to go to jail. She also asks how intense his relationship with Karen is. Charlie comes out and he's embarrassed and nervous. Abby is unamused by how badly Charlie deviated from their expected exchange.

Bill takes the stand and testifies about coming home and finding Mia with Hank. Bill speaks to him, and he vomits in their pool. He asks Bill not to tell Becca and Karen he was there. Bill tells him this is his own doing, and Hank says he knows. Of course he knows. That's why he's so messed up. Bill helps Hank up and out.

The dates in question prove that Hank had met Mia before the date they had sex. Abby writes and asks if they met before, and Hank doesn't answer. Bill testifies that he believes Hank had sex with Mia to get even with him over Karen. Abby has him testify that Hank was completely trashed when he met Mia. Hank's recollection is that he could barely see Mia, the sun was behind her. If he met her, all he knew was that he was talking to a female.

Mia's on the stage, backing Hank. The night they met at the bookstore, he had no idea who she was. Abby asks what her relationship with Karen was like. She says Karen was nice, but Abby pushes. Mia remembers an encounter with Karen when she pushed her not to go out. She tried asking her, then when Mia refused to hear her, she ordered her to stay. Mia went out anyway. That was the night she wandered into the bookstore, and found the trouble she was looking for.

Abby is angry as they leave court. The seed of doubt has been planted. This changes everything. Karen joins him, and believes what Abby thinks the jury will believe - that he already knew Mia. She swears at Frank and leaves him standing on the courthouse steps. He flags down a taxi.

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