Lauren's rebellious attitude continues to test the patience of Amy, who's perturbed when her daughter suddenly becomes a vegetarian. Amy's also annoyed that a certain political strategist won't take no for an answer about her pursuing a senate seat and she tries to find some redeeming qualities in a teenage boy in order to keep him from being tried as an adult after he assaults his mother. Meanwhile, Maxine tries to help a lonely single mom with the difficult responsibility of raising an autistic child and Peter and Gillian work on trust issues in their marriage.

Bruce calls Amy's objectivity into question while sentencing a 10-year-old repeat offender. Maxine tries to help a family with multiple special needs children fend off a bank bent on foreclosing on their house as Vincent faces a life and death situation. Good news about Graciela Reyes is tempered by an unfortunate event.