“Gangsta’s Paradise” by Coolio plays over scenes depicting identity, hardship, repercussions, and silence. Margaret Zinn, speaking directly to the camera/some device, introduces herself and states that she is about to give testimony on her child Frank Zinn—now Ava—and they are from Landess/Van Buren in Grant County, Indiana. Growing up, Margaret was a stickler for punishment when things weren’t how she wanted them. She testifies that she always felt the world needed to be in order until Frank transitioned to Ava. She says she caused a lot of pain and suffering and wonders what unconditional love really means.
Margaret tells Ava (then Frank) to stop “dressing like a girl” and stop “confusing” Samantha, Frank’s daughter and Margaret’s granddaughter. Ava comes out of her room, telling Margaret it’s better to be honest about who you are. Samantha says her dad is nice and asks everyone to stop yelling because it sounds like a battlefield. Albert tries to calm everyone down. Margaret says she has cousins and “ways” that she should be spoken to. Ava says Margaret can’t keep living in the past, and everyone should be who they are supposed to be. Samantha ends the argument saying she’s happy her dad likes who she is now.
“Touch Me (All Night Long)” by Cathy Dennis plays as Ava stops to talk to Alec Dailey, who has known her since she was little. Ava says everyone keeps telling her different things. Amanda Davidson wants her to be, Samantha expects her to be, and Margaret thinks she should be. Alec consoles Ava by saying it’s okay to be honest and that no one is getting confused by who she truly is. He adds that Amanda, Samantha, and Margaret already know who she is. Ava states that every morning she leaves her house, she promises to be herself.
Ava is in math class with Mr. Doug Batton. Karly Millspaugh speaks to Ava directly and says she can tell something is off about her today. The show flashes forward to Karly Millspaugh and Kayla Battishill being whistleblowers on corruption later in life. Ava is in Mrs. Lori Mughmaw’s classroom when Stacey Parker and Jessica Vermillion make sure she finishes the car/mousetrap project. Ava is in shop class with Mr. Phillip Cole. Ava refuses to give up her unfinished mousetrap car and needs more time to finish it after school. Mr. Cole orders Ava out of his class. Ava shouts and hits Mr. Cole and gets a scratch on his arm. Mr. Jack Keller tells Ava off and says if she loses her temper again, she’ll be suspended. Ava narrates that feeling hits everywhere at once and won’t let go.
Simulated breaking news scenes show Charlie Van Dyke getting hits from Channel 13 Eyewitness News (WTHR), Anne Ryder reporting in Indianapolis on the Gas City happenings, and Keith Edwards with 21Alive (WPTA Fort Wayne) discussing property damage and an injured teacher.
Many people speak over each other about April 18, 1996. Traci Davidson was a Bishop Dwenger junior when it happened. It felt like rumblings from chaos but needed to happen for change. She credits the events with her wanting to become a journalist. Maribel Mort was Robyn’s daughter. Robyn covered the ordeal for work. Marshall Davidson calls and says, “We are about to witness the birth of a new era.” Margaret says the incident was crazy and was also a rebirth. She hopes people will be empathetic and truthful.
Hour one ends with Margaret screaming at Amanda, Ava, and Samantha. She tells Ava she’ll be grounded until she learns her lesson, and she’ll let Samantha stay. Marshall Davidson, Holly Everman, and Angie Nieves urge everyone to calm down and support Ava. Robyn and Holly tell Margaret that Ava needs to express who she is, and Amanda asks if Margaret ever wished Frank was her daughter.
In hour two, Ava’s girlfriend Amanda wants confirmation about the news from her father, Marshall. He reaches out to Robyn, who confirms that Ava was the person involved in the altercation. Marshall tells Amanda that everyone can calm down after school. Amanda is at school and visits her guidance counselor, Ms. Thompson, at her Fort Wayne school. She says she’s been with Ava for three years. They have a daughter named Samantha, and she’s a teenage mother who loves Ava and wants what’s best for her. Ms. Thompson comforts Amanda and says she’ll see what she can do.
Ava goes to school the next day. Kayla checks up on Ava while Karly and Stacey support her. Ava meets with school officials Mr. Talbott and Mr. Keller to discuss consequences. Ava isn’t suspended or expelled, but she did get in trouble and learn a lesson. The administrators tell Ava that she’s only 13 but also has a 2-year-old daughter. Samantha will be affected by her decisions, and they encourage her to focus on school and make better choices. Ava reflects that it wasn’t redemption she was feeling, but that she can’t continue to fall deeper into life.
Ava is now older and reading her disenrollment letter from Indiana Wesleyan University. The letter stated Ava failed classes (when it is revealed that she was not focused on her work), experienced food insecurity, bounced around multiple homes, and struggled. Ava called Robyn and Holly to cover the story and came to Marion. She told her professors about the situation, and when her kids are older, she’ll tell them what happened. Ava calls the moments leading up to her being expelled “squished” between life and death.
Robyn and Holly rush to get to Ava. Robyn screams they need to get to Ava before she kills herself. Hank and George say their biggest car chases were in Brooklyn and New Orleans, respectively, because they were chasing suspects. George says Ava is the reason they are speeding. Robyn pulls out a gun and tells Albert to “stop killing Ava.” Hank and George are Ava’s bodyguards. They were hired by Margaret to follow Ava around to make sure she takes her meds. Ava calms Robyn down, and everyone is now here for Ava.
Margaret is on her deathbed with Samantha and Thomas sitting with her. Margaret sarcastically says fun things about dying and how she didn’t get to do all the rituals because she’s disabled now. Margaret starts crying and says she has diabetes and died early because they didn’t get life insurance soon enough. Ava and Albert come into the room with Angie speaking to Margaret. Margaret apologized to Ava for her past behavior. Ava tells Margaret how she thought she hated her but loves her. Margaret calls Ava her transgender daughter, and Ava responds with homophobic statements. Margaret yells that Ava has several trans kids in the family. Ava raised two boys with love instead of spanking them.
Margaret starts hallucinating and says she’s going to haunt people and kill them. She mentions people that passed away before the events of 1996. Angie says Margaret tormented Ava her whole life and says, “I hope you live forever.” Margaret dies, and the machine goes flatline. Angie informs everyone that Margaret passed away. Ava sighs and said, she should’ve been there to hear her mom utter the words she needed but hangs up because Angie received a text from Margaret. Ava reads it: “I love you, Ava and Albert. I am sorry.” Someone else says, “You’ll always be my baby, through and through.” Ava says she is a transgirl.
Everyone says their final lines before the episode cuts to black. Caprice and Ella crack.
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