later that same day, ruth is packing for her trip, she hears ellen calling out to her and asks her to call the hospital, telling her she took sleeping pills. ruth believes she is faking it and goes and counts the sleeping pills she gave ruth, seeing that only one is missing. ellen ends up dying, and although initially classified as a suicide, ruth is arrested and put on trial for murder. the district attorney is ellen's ex-fiancé, russell and he presents evidence that ruth was jealous of ellen and that ellen sent him a letter mentioning ruth trying to kill her. margaret finds the swapped out sweetener packet and powder residue in the pocket of the jacket ellen wore at the party. testing concludes that ellen tried to stage her own murder, and the charges against ruth are dropped. richard and ruth are seen at the lake house together.