Beverly's trial becomes a media sensation. She is dubbed "Serial Mom", Chip hires an agent to manage the family's media appearances and Misty sells merchandise outside the courthouse. During the opening arguments, Beverly's lawyer claims that she is not guilty by reason of insanity, but she fires him and, citing law books she has read, proposes to represent herself, to which the judge reluctantly agrees. Beverly systematically discredits most every witness against her by using trick questioning to incite Dottie to contempt of court by repeated obscenities; finding a transsexual-themed magazine in Gracey's trash; goading Rosemary into admitting she does not recycle; and deliberately arousing Marvin Pickles, witness to Carl's murder, who unknowingly commits perjury. Only Hodges is not discredited, as she is unable to provide credible testimony under the influence of marijuana. During Pike's testimony, the courtroom is distracted by the arrival of Suzanne Somers, who has been cast as Beverly for a television film.