In Matlock episode 7, "Belly of the Beast," the episode begins with Madeline Matlock (Kathy Bates) alone at home, as Edwin (Sam Anderson) and Alfie (Aaron Harris) are away on vacation in Florida. Matlock, however, is staying behind to handle her first Wellbrexa case. She’s meeting with the pharmaceutical company's in-house legal team, hoping to impress them and gain access to their files. The case involves Jesse (Dominique Gayle), a 23-year-old who experienced kidney problems after participating in drug trials at 21. Matlock believes offering Jesse $50,000 will settle the case. However, her negotiation with Wellbrexa’s legal team quickly escalates when Jesse secretly records the meeting and posts it online, damaging the company’s reputation.
Meanwhile, personal dramas unfold. Shay (Yael Grobglas) pressures Sarah (Leah Lewis) to sing in the a cappella group at the Christmas party, despite Sarah’s hesitation over how it might affect her budding relationship with Kira (Piper Curda).
Eventually, Sarah performs, impressing Kira and leading to their first kiss. Sarah also helps Billy (David Del Rio) work up the courage to propose to Claudia (Bella Ortiz), though she later rejects him, devastating him. Sarah consoles him afterward.
Back in the legal world, Matlock faces a series of challenges with the Wellbrexa team, especially dealing with Trent Boyle (Josh Archer), who has a large ego. The case takes a turn when Jesse and her lawyer, Paige (Zamani Wilder), announce that they are not just suing for damages, but are now advocating for all drug trial participants and seeking to stop Wellbrexa’s drug trials. The company loses $1 million a day due to the halted trials, and Matlock finds herself under pressure to resolve the issue quickly.
As the case unfolds, Matlock discovers that Dr. Blackwell (Mark Blackwell), who oversaw the trials, had private texts with his ex-girlfriend, Dr. Kathryn Roark, that may prove Jesse’s allegations. However, Matlock faces a setback when these texts are ruled inadmissible in court due to their personal nature, dealing a blow to the plaintiffs' case. The trial is dismissed, and Matlock and Julian (Jason Ritter) are removed from the Wellbrexa case. Despite the defeat, Matlock uncovers a key weakness in Senior's (Beau Bridges) case by using AI to access his confidential files.
At the Christmas party, Matlock’s mood darkens as she faces the fallout from the Wellbrexa case. Meanwhile, Julian’s personal life unravels further as he confesses to Olympia (Skye P. Marshall) that he had an affair before their separation, deepening the rift between them. The episode ends on a note of unresolved tension as Matlock, now armed with valuable information, prepares for her next move.
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